The off-side rear door of my car will not open and the car needs to have an MOT soon - this week. I have just spoken to an MOT testing centre where I was told that all doors must open yet the MOT site (www.ukmot.com/checklist/motcheck/motcheck_body.htm)
says that both front doors must be capable of being opened from the inside and outside and all doors must latch securely. ie does not mention rear doors at all.
Any advice from someone with first hand experience. I know, I could always ask at another centre but this one is very handy. I will of course get the door fixed but the MOT is pressing.
Also, the door was OK yesterday afternoon but would not open this morning. When I use the central locking controller the door lock on the offending door does not pop-up. When I try to open the door from inside it steadfastly remains locked. ANy ideas as to what has happened? NB it is a 1998 Passat.
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When I use the central locking controller the door lock on the offending door does not pop-up.
Can you lift the button manually? And if so, can you then open the door?
When I try to open the door from inside it steadfastly remains locked.
What happens when you try and open from the outside? Are the childlocks activated? which is why you can't open from inside.
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DD,
No, I cannot lift the button manually. I can pull the inside door handle and the button comes up. However, the door does not open and even if I hold the button when it is up it springs down again when I let go off the door handle.
Door is locked so will not open from outside. Childlock not activated.
Looks like a garage job.
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Yep, sounds like a knackered latch to me - could be tricky to open manually.......
MG-Rover Problems? forums.mg-rover.org
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Interesting Robin : we also have a '98 Passat. Our offside rear door won't lock with the central locking system. It will, however, open with it!
Main dealer has also said we need a new latch. Can you let me know how you get on? (possibly by emailing me off forum) I suppose our problem is slightly better than yours (although we have to remember to manually lock the door)Anyone else had a similar problem, or is this just coincidence?
Tim
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Tim, It seems there have been quite a few locking problems on late 90s Passats reported recently in the BR. E.g. www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=i&t=94...1
Try a site search.
ATB
CMark
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If the door will unlock, but not lock, try getting the door card off and spraying the mechanism with WD40 first. If it will unlock, that means there is power to it and the motor must work in at least one direction. I had that problem on my car (1989 Renault 19 but still...) and WD40 cured it - it now works perfectly.
I know I must sound like I believe WD40 solves all problems, but it isn't going to do any harm to try it.
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Before you replace the part, take the door card off and spray the mechanism liberally with WD40. In your case, Tim, there is definitely power to the door and the motor works in at least one way. I had the same problem and lubricating the mechanism solved it, although my car is a 1989 Renault 19 - slightly different, but the principle is the same.
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Hi Robin,
I had the same problem with my Vectra; turns out the lock had got "stuck" in the deadlock position. (I eventually fixed it by removing the door trim carefully from inside with door shut, enabling me to remove the external handle, and then attacked it from outside with mallet and screwdriver until breached. Replaced with new unit - about £40 for my car).
Anyway, I digress; thing is - my car passed the MOT with the back door deadlocked. I pointed it out to the tester before the test, who quoted what you have said about the front doors (which both work fine), and that the rear door was indeed securely latched.
If you are short on cash and/or time, and just want the MOT, I would try a different test centre; it is my understanding that the current one would be failing you incorrectly on the rear door.
I'm sure an MOT qualified tester will be along soon to confirm or disagree.
HTH
-David L.
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Thanks to all for the replies.
I have just had the car at a garage (not a VW one) and the best they could come up with is that the wires to the rear door may be fractured - especially as the elctric window on the same door is also kaput. The window has been non functioning for a week or so but the door only for a day or 2. Looks like a progressive failure? The fuses were checked and were OK. So, off to the highly expensive VW garage for an opinion.
When the bloke was looking at my car I asked him about the MOT test. He told me he is a tester and tht he would fail my car since the rear doors will open. So, I will be off to another test station as well.
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I asked him about the MOT test. He told me he is a tester and tht he would fail my car since the rear doors will open.
A typo error, surely? He can't fail the car unless the doors open of their own accord.
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Sorry, a typo. He told me that he would fail the car because the rear doors did not open.
I have been asking around this afternoon about whether my car would fail. I have heard the following:
Fail: all doors must open
Fail: all doors must open; rear doors from outside only is OK
Pass: only front doors considered in test.
The people I asked were all actual testers. What does this say about the standards applied in the MOT? I know that all tests are in some ways subjective but on a simple matter of fact like this there should be no subjectivity.
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As long as one rear door opens you should be OK. Redser
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Jeeez!
Who do we believe?
MG-Rover Problems? forums.mg-rover.org
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As long as one rear door opens you should be OK.
I beg to differ. If vehicle were involved in an accident, and the damage happened to be on the same side as the only opening rear door, how would you get out?
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See this link:
www.motuk.co.uk/manual_620.htm
No mention of rear doors, so I think the car cannot be failed.
RichardW
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So supposing you weld the rear doors and say it is a converted COUPE? Are there any construction specifications which would prevent you from calling the car a Coupe?
*view Backroomer photos and ADD your own at:
groups.msn.com/honestjohn/shoebox.msnw
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