Please can anyone help? I have a mk1 Octavia Elegance 1.9 tdi, and the MOT runs out on 7th July. The main problem I have to sort out before the MOT expires is that the passenger front door will not unlock nor open.

On 19/06/2024 at 23:58, Octavia04TDi said:

Please can anyone help? I have a mk1 Octavia Elegance 1.9 tdi, and the MOT runs out on 7th July. The main problem I have to sort out before the MOT expires is that the passenger front door will not unlock nor open.

Sorry for late reply, did you manage to sort this out?

Try pulling the handle on the inside while repeatedly pressing the unlock button on the driver's door.

I did manage to get it open. The repeated hitting the door and pulling the handle didn't work, then I removed the door card and tried connecting a 12v battery directly to the wires that go to the actuator. At first I thought this would work, as it did make a whirring noise, but still didn't unlock and then the noise stopped, suggesting the motor was totally burned out.

The way I got it open was to use a Dremel type tool to cut a hole in the side of the door lock (near the top) and then pushed the "plunger" up manually, using a screwdriver; turning the cog (visible through the bottom hole) didn't work, as it just kept spinning back against the resistance.