11 years old, 104k and the doors are still opening and closing as they should.....but, for how much longer?

 

Should I and would it be a wise move to now consider replacing all the catch mechanisms just as a matter of preventative maintenance?

You could do but it's a hell of a lot of work to fit them.

In a word. No

Why lads?

 

I've read so many horror stories on this issue, and not just VAG cars either.

You could do but it's a hell of a lot of work to fit them.

Hell of a lot more work when they finally fail though surely?

You are looking at stripping down four doors, sealing regulators etc plus about £400 in parts to change all four at the same time. I'm all for preventative maintenance but just seems a bit over the top is all.

You don't have to destroy a car if one does jam up. There are tricks to get the door open to change one that has given up.

Well my daughters Fabia has just had both rear doors fail (deadlocked) and you can take out the rear seats to gain better access and you can pull of the door trim to gain access to the carrier, break/cut the leaking door seal (thats why its better to use a stay soft mastic) remove screws or rivets, disconnect the window glass, remove wiring clips,and remove carrier,then the fun begins !  trying to remove a deadlocked lock mech in the top corner, I have tried smashing one of them up to release it and its move a small bit and its ongoing ! next prob is the find the correct door locks ! hope that gives you a small insite cheers Stuart

Thanks lads. Most helpful, but .I am a bit paranoid about it.

 

A friend of mine knows someone that recently bought a BMW 320, only 4 years old, and the drivers door jammed shut just two days after he bought it privately.

The main dealer did actually have to quite badly damage the £800 door panel to gain access to replace

 

Why do these locks fail now?

Never used to happen a couple of decades ago did it?

 

I presume their is NO preventative  maintenance possible on these sealed units?

Well my daughters Fabia has just had both rear doors fail (deadlocked) and you can take out the rear seats to gain better access and you can pull of the door trim to gain access to the carrier, break/cut the leaking door seal (thats why its better to use a stay soft mastic) remove screws or rivets, disconnect the window glass, remove wiring clips,and remove carrier,then the fun begins !  trying to remove a deadlocked lock mech in the top corner, I have tried smashing one of them up to release it and its move a small bit and its ongoing ! next prob is the find the correct door locks ! hope that gives you a small insite cheers Stuart

Is this when they fail? Deadlocking?

Is just a single press of the remote (non deadlocking)  a good idea then?

Hi Adenuf, the rear nearside was being intermittent for a while and I was too busy to get round to it and meanwhile the other side went, I presume its deadlocked as no amount of pulling levers opens it and the button will only pop up halfway ! anybody any ideas of which piece of lock to move to open it or do I keep bashing untill it opens ? cheers Stuart

Hi Adenuf, the rear nearside was being intermittent for a while and I was too busy to get round to it and meanwhile the other side went, I presume its deadlocked as no amount of pulling levers opens it and the button will only pop up halfway ! anybody any ideas of which piece of lock to move to open it or do I keep bashing untill it opens ? cheers Stuart

Mini Mokes never had this problem ey? 

Is this when they fail? Deadlocking?

Is just a single press of the remote (non deadlocking)  a good idea then?

A single press of the remote puts the deadlocks on, a double press disables the deadlock

 

From my experience they usually start playing up intermittently and may take a few goes to open or lock. I've never had one fail completely so my advice would be keep an eye on them and not put off changing one once it starts playing up.

A single press of the remote puts the deadlocks on, a double press disables the deadlock

 

From my experience they usually start playing up intermittently and may take a few goes to open or lock. I've never had one fail completely so my advice would be keep an eye on them and not put off changing one once it starts playing up.

I've been blipping my remote the wrong way around for the last 10 years then!!   :|

More often that not they jam up as the cable is incorrectly adjusted and it holds the lever on slightly.

I've been blipping my remote the wrong way around for the last 10 years then!!   :|

It seems quite a common misconception. Try it for yourself

What does deadlocked mean?

What does deadlocked mean?

You can't open it from the inside. IE you can't smash the window and then reach in and open the door.

Edited 11 April, 201610 yr by SuperbTWM

Ah, I see, thanks.

Yeh and when its deadlocked you try and get it open even with the inside panel and carrier off !