How do i break in to my 2002 Jetta

[Figor]

So I left the fob on the console and got out of the car and apparently it locked itself. Things just keep getting better.

Can someone post inner door diagram so I can try to make a slim Jim and see if i can pop this open?

Thanks

 

[T-Roy]

I had to do this the other day to wife's Golf.

I used some composite shims I had to wedge in the top corner of the door to make a gap and used a wire coat hanger unfolded to reach in and pull the door handle with.

It was a bit frustrating at times and took a few adjustments of the bends in the coat hanger, but finally got it after about 20 minutes.

I don't even think slim jims work on these cars because of the way the door innards are designed. Easier to just make a small gap and use a stiff wire and some patience.

 

[Figor]

I had to do this the other day to wife's Golf.

I used some composite shims I had to wedge in the top corner of the door to make a gap and used a wire coat hanger unfolded to reach in and pull the door handle with.

It was a bit frustrating at times and took a few adjustments of the bends in the coat hanger, but finally got it after about 20 minutes.

I don't even think slim jims work on these cars because of the way the door innards are designed. L give it a shot to just make a small gap and use a stliff wire and some patience.

Thanks, I'll give this a shot

 

[jokila]

When you get done with that, come back and we can tell you why it happened.

 

[Vince Waldon]

Yup, your turn.

 

[Figor]

That worked. Took a bit of fiddling but I got it. I guess this is some kid of security feature or electrical gremlins

 

[P2B]

I guess this is some kid of security feature or electrical gremlins

I guess you haven't noticed that the car relocks if you don't open a door within 20 seconds of unlocking.

If the stupid door switch has failed, it relocks whether you open the door or not.

 

[Figor]

I guess you haven't noticed that the car relocks if you don't open a door within 20 seconds of unlocking.

If the stupid door switch has failed, it relocks whether you open the door or not.

Mine must be defective. This is the first ti.e it has happened.

 

[P2B]

Mine must be defective. This is the first ti.e it has happened.

Does the car know when the door is open?

 

[Figor]

Does the car know when the door is open?

Must not. I have been leaving it unlocked and it's been staying unlocked until yesterday.

 

[P2B]

I have been leaving it unlocked

In that case it should not lock itself.

 

[Vince Waldon]

Do your dome lights come on and off as expected, when you open the drivers side door?

 

[jokila]

An easy indicator, at least on the Jetta and Golfs, is the open door indicator on the dash. If the sensor doesn't indicate the door is open then it's defective.

 

[Figor]

Do your dome lights come on and off as expected, when you open the drivers side door?

No they dont

 

[Vince Waldon]

I'm going to guess that you don't get a buzzer if you open the driver's door when the key is still in the ignition?

 

[jokila]

And probably doesn't get a buzzer sound when lights are on, driver door open, and ignition completely off with no key inserted.

 

[Figor]

Correct on both. So what does this mean? Just a bad door sensor or more to this?

 

[Vince Waldon]

You have the (very classic) bad door microswitch, found on almost all MK4s eventually, and because the ECU can't tell if the driver's door has been opened in certain situations it automatically re-locks the door for security's sake. In this case, locking your keys in the car.

P2B has linked the master thread that covers all the whats and whys and hows, the TL;DR is that if you're handy there are ways of removing the door lock module and replacing just the microswitch OR you can opt to replace the door lock module itself. Amazon/eBay/Hans Auto replacements NOT generally recommended.

 

[P2B]

Correct on both. So what does this mean? Just a bad door sensor or more to this?

It means the stupid door switch has failed (link is to a massive thread on the topic).

The switch can be replaced, or you can just replace the whole latch module.

 

[Figor]

Ok thanks guys. Im somewhat handy so I may give the repair a try.

 

[Nuje]

You can also just buy a replacement door lock module off Amazon (or ebay or AliX) for like $50.
Will it last forever? Probably not.
Will it last longer than the OE one? That "stupid door switch" thread was started in 2004 - four years into the mk4 model run, so....I'd say you have a decent chance of surpassing that. I've replaced probably 30 of them on mine and others' cars and have yet to replace a replacement.

 

[Powder Hound]

Actually, the real culprit is most likely cracked solder joints in the wires to the circuit boards rather than the switches failing. Getting the lead out of solder has a lot of effects the tree huggers don't know of and/or don't care about. The upshot is that the repair may not need anything more than time, 60/40 solder, a soldering iron, and a few tools.

On the other hand, buying a replacement latch module is quicker.

Cheers,

PH

 

[P2B]

Actually, the real culprit is most likely cracked solder joints in the wires to the circuit boards rather than the switches failing.

That has not been my experience. I have replaced a dozen or more door open switches, the switch was always the issue.

The only time I needed to reflow a solder joint was to fix a rear door module where the lock/unlock function failed.