Mk 4 central locking only unlocks driver's door

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VAG Fan
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Mk 4 central locking only unlocks driver's door

Post by VAG Fan »

My Golf 4 has picked up a problem with its central (un)locking. The driver's door still works normally on the first press on the unlock button, but the second press doesn't unlock the other doors anymore. The indicators give 2 flashes, and I hear some activity in the doors, but none of them, including the boot, unlock. I have to use the unlocking button in the driver's armrest. This button is, in itself, dodgy, and sometimes has to be pressed hard.

I do know that some of the micro switches in the door locks are not good anymore, especially the passenger door, which doesn't give a signal when open (interior light doesn't work when it's open, and if I only open that door, the car re-locks itself after a minute). But in spite of that problem, up to now, the second click on the remote was working normally.

This morning I wanted to access the boot, so I pressed the remote once, to deactivate the alarm, then manually unlocked the boot. So far so good, but when I then started the engine, the alarm gave me a one-second buzz, presumably because the boot was "improperly" unlocked. Irritating...

I'd appreciate any advice on where to start tracing the problem. Does the central locking have an error register that could be diagnosed on VCDS?
Mark R.
- - - - - - - - - -
2004 VW Golf TDI, type 1J, AHF, 317k (2016-current) --- daily
1990 VW Fox, type 16, HM, 304k (2005-current) --- spare runaround
Previous:
1992 Audi 500 SE, type C4, AAR (2001-2020) --- nice while it lasted
1983 VW Golf GTS, type 17, FR (1992-2005) --- most fun car I've ever had
1978 Audi 100 GLS 5E, type 43, WC (1991-92) --- died in the side of a Rekord who cut me off
- - - - - - - - - -
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Re: Mk 4 central locking only unlocks driver's door

Post by panic-mechanic »

Yes central locking will report faults that can be scanned and that will be the best place to start.
Stephan van Tonder - Jhb - Putfontein Benoni
'05 Audi A6 3.0L TDI Avant
'09 Touareg 3l TDI
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Baldwin02002
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Re: Mk 4 central locking only unlocks driver's door

Post by Baldwin02002 »

Check the earth wire as well.
Current:
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VAG Fan
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Re: Mk 4 central locking only unlocks driver's door

Post by VAG Fan »

Thanks, gents.

Not sure which specific earth wire to check, but I'll try to follow up.

Stephan, I'll contact you re. fault scanning - need to come visit anyway, as my turbo is on its last wing and the new one needs to be installed before the old one blows completely.
Mark R.
- - - - - - - - - -
2004 VW Golf TDI, type 1J, AHF, 317k (2016-current) --- daily
1990 VW Fox, type 16, HM, 304k (2005-current) --- spare runaround
Previous:
1992 Audi 500 SE, type C4, AAR (2001-2020) --- nice while it lasted
1983 VW Golf GTS, type 17, FR (1992-2005) --- most fun car I've ever had
1978 Audi 100 GLS 5E, type 43, WC (1991-92) --- died in the side of a Rekord who cut me off
- - - - - - - - - -
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panic-mechanic
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Re: Mk 4 central locking only unlocks driver's door

Post by panic-mechanic »

All good. Lemme know when you need it done. October is crazy. Sort of mid november we are looking better.
Stephan van Tonder - Jhb - Putfontein Benoni
'05 Audi A6 3.0L TDI Avant
'09 Touareg 3l TDI
'13 VW CC 2l tdi (repair project)
'05 Touareg v10

Perfect Power dealer. I do dyno tuning.
VAG Fan
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Re: Mk 4 central locking only unlocks driver's door

Post by VAG Fan »

Thanks! My October is totally crazy too. Mid Nov. sounds perfect. Will be in touch. (See also my turbo thread from today.)
Mark R.
- - - - - - - - - -
2004 VW Golf TDI, type 1J, AHF, 317k (2016-current) --- daily
1990 VW Fox, type 16, HM, 304k (2005-current) --- spare runaround
Previous:
1992 Audi 500 SE, type C4, AAR (2001-2020) --- nice while it lasted
1983 VW Golf GTS, type 17, FR (1992-2005) --- most fun car I've ever had
1978 Audi 100 GLS 5E, type 43, WC (1991-92) --- died in the side of a Rekord who cut me off
- - - - - - - - - -
Rudi46
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Re: Mk 4 central locking only unlocks driver's door

Post by Rudi46 »

VAG Fan wrote: Tue Oct 16, 2018 10:19 am Thanks! My October is totally crazy too. Mid Nov. sounds perfect. Will be in touch. (See also my turbo thread from today.)
Take Battery Terminal off for 1 our en refit. Common Problem on the MK4 chassis. Had it a few times on diff cars.
Current - 1994 VW Caddy 1.8i
EX - 05 Audi A3 Sportback DSG 2TDI
Ex - 01 VW Golf MK4 TDi Estate
Ex - 00 Triumph Sprint ST(Stollen)
Ex - 83 Caddy
Ex - 02 Audi S3
Ex - Kartcraft Kestrel beach Buggy
Ex - 98 Golf Chico 2L
Ex - 01 Golf 4 Tdi
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Ex - 90 Honda CBR400
Ex - 03 Honda NSR150SP
VAG Fan
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Re: Mk 4 central locking only unlocks driver's door

Post by VAG Fan »

Now that would be a wonderfully easy fix. Shall try it immediately!

Dankbaar.
Mark R.
- - - - - - - - - -
2004 VW Golf TDI, type 1J, AHF, 317k (2016-current) --- daily
1990 VW Fox, type 16, HM, 304k (2005-current) --- spare runaround
Previous:
1992 Audi 500 SE, type C4, AAR (2001-2020) --- nice while it lasted
1983 VW Golf GTS, type 17, FR (1992-2005) --- most fun car I've ever had
1978 Audi 100 GLS 5E, type 43, WC (1991-92) --- died in the side of a Rekord who cut me off
- - - - - - - - - -
VAG Fan
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Re: Mk 4 central locking only unlocks driver's door

Post by VAG Fan »

Rudi46 wrote: Tue Oct 16, 2018 11:03 amTake Battery Terminal off for 1 our en refit. Common Problem on the MK4 chassis. Had it a few times on diff cars.
I didn't try this immediately, as I wanted to finish my fuel tank first. I always compare my actual consumption with the calculated one, and I wanted to try and squeeze 1000 km from this tank (got to 985...)

Anyhow, I disconnected the battery yesterday, and this did the trick! The second click on my remote is back to normal. Baie dankie, Rudi, jou doring. :hurray:
Mark R.
- - - - - - - - - -
2004 VW Golf TDI, type 1J, AHF, 317k (2016-current) --- daily
1990 VW Fox, type 16, HM, 304k (2005-current) --- spare runaround
Previous:
1992 Audi 500 SE, type C4, AAR (2001-2020) --- nice while it lasted
1983 VW Golf GTS, type 17, FR (1992-2005) --- most fun car I've ever had
1978 Audi 100 GLS 5E, type 43, WC (1991-92) --- died in the side of a Rekord who cut me off
- - - - - - - - - -
Rudi46
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Posts: 727
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Location: Meyerton

Re: Mk 4 central locking only unlocks driver's door

Post by Rudi46 »

VAG Fan wrote: Tue Oct 23, 2018 9:17 am
Rudi46 wrote: Tue Oct 16, 2018 11:03 amTake Battery Terminal off for 1 our en refit. Common Problem on the MK4 chassis. Had it a few times on diff cars.
I didn't try this immediately, as I wanted to finish my fuel tank first. I always compare my actual consumption with the calculated one, and I wanted to try and squeeze 1000 km from this tank (got to 985...)

Anyhow, I disconnected the battery yesterday, and this did the trick! The second click on my remote is back to normal. Baie dankie, Rudi, jou doring. :hurray:
Wow that is some Granny skills there, Most I got from min was Arround 800km on a Tank.
Glad is worked for you. Easy fix for something that is a big irritation.
Current - 1994 VW Caddy 1.8i
EX - 05 Audi A3 Sportback DSG 2TDI
Ex - 01 VW Golf MK4 TDi Estate
Ex - 00 Triumph Sprint ST(Stollen)
Ex - 83 Caddy
Ex - 02 Audi S3
Ex - Kartcraft Kestrel beach Buggy
Ex - 98 Golf Chico 2L
Ex - 01 Golf 4 Tdi
Ex - 92 Citi shuttle 2L
Ex - 90 Yamaha FZR1000
Ex - 90 Honda CBR400
Ex - 03 Honda NSR150SP
VAG Fan
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Re: Mk 4 central locking only unlocks driver's door

Post by VAG Fan »

Well, I FORCED myself to drive like a granny, was on my way back from the coast, where I had picked up some turbo noises (probably the turbine is starting to rub against the housing). So I disconnected the N75 to keep the VNT open, in low-boost mode, and took it veeery gently... Had no fun, no fun at all, crawling from KZN back to Pta at 105 km/h, up van Reenen's at 70...

On normal long-distance drives, I get about 900-950 on a tank - in town, 800-850.
Mark R.
- - - - - - - - - -
2004 VW Golf TDI, type 1J, AHF, 317k (2016-current) --- daily
1990 VW Fox, type 16, HM, 304k (2005-current) --- spare runaround
Previous:
1992 Audi 500 SE, type C4, AAR (2001-2020) --- nice while it lasted
1983 VW Golf GTS, type 17, FR (1992-2005) --- most fun car I've ever had
1978 Audi 100 GLS 5E, type 43, WC (1991-92) --- died in the side of a Rekord who cut me off
- - - - - - - - - -
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