Stuck front passenger door

[Si_Bevan]

I've been driving various Seat's for about four years now, but in June this year I found the car I've wanted for a long time - Mk1 Seat Leon Cupra R. It's a 2006 model, 68,000 (ish) on the clock, full Seat service history. Had a good deal on the price, car is in excellent condition, having had the timing belt changed twice and the turbo changed (this was done by Seat after wrongly diagnosing a power loss fault). Only mods are an uprated airfilter and dump valve. Previous owner also fitted a boost gauge.

Since I've had the car it's had a niggling problem with the central locking. The front passenger door is the issue, sometines it locks and sometimes it doesn't. Recently it's been not opening at all, so I bought a new central door locking module for it. Only problem is I now can't get the door to open at all.

I've been reading various threads regarding the central door locking issue and they all seem to point to the module in the door. On previous Seat's, I taken the door card off to fit a new window regulator, so know what to do to change the central locking module. But with the door closed it's a bit difficult. I managed to get the small torx screws out of the bottom of the door card, and prise the door card off to see the lock, but still can't get the door to open. Other threads have spoken about attacking the door lock with a chisel , but this must be a final resort.

Is there a trick I'm missing? Or do I have to take the car to Seat for them to attempt to open the door. Any help is much appreciated.

Frustrated in Swansea

 

[mty12345]

If you have access to VCDS/Vagcom then scanning the "central convienience" module should reveal if it's an electrical fault. If there is no code then it's going to be a mechanical fault and may need you to break the chisel out.

 

[Hamzilla]

I had the same fault on my rear passenger door just as my MOT was due 2 weeks ago.

Try spraying the electrical connector to the door lock module but this didn't work for me, so I had to get a mobile mechanic who force opened the door from the inside by kicking the panel whilst pulling hard on the door lever cable.

Then he replaced the lock with a brand new one I found from ebay.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121033657189?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[Manx_Jay]

Mine is doing this at the minute and there is no logical reason for it. Some days it won't work, others it works first time. It can go for weeks with no problems then suddenly the passenger has to climb over as it won't unlock from outside or in….

 

[mty12345]

Mine is doing this at the minute and there is no logical reason for it. Some days it won't work, others it works first time. It can go for weeks with no problems then suddenly the passenger has to climb over as it won't unlock from outside or in….

Get it sorted before it breaks completely and you end up having to smash the lock open with a hammer and chisel, it will save you a lot of problems.....If i had a fiver for every person on here that has said "I should of sorted the lock sooner" i'd be a rich man by now!
It's probably the connector or if you have other electrical problems in that door( light not working or crackly speaker etc) then it can be the wiring inside of the rubber bellow where the wiring passes through the body into the door itself.

 

[xDaNx]

Push the door hard (from the outside), also bang the handle then try opening

 

[MOZ_LC_TDI]

Get it sorted before it breaks completely and you end up having to smash the lock open with a hammer and chisel, it will save you a lot of problems.....If i had a fiver for every person on here that has said "I should of sorted the lock sooner" i'd be a rich man by now!
.

+1
From bitter experence having had a lock being intermittent for 12 months then finally failing completely when shut, do yourself a favor and change the lock when you can while it still opens otherwise its a pig of a job and yes you will resort to the hammer and chisel. Its amazing how often this comes up and is clearly a real common issue on these.
Good luck all. been there done that, not fun!!

Moz

 

[carew]

I to have this problem to sort out. Mines locked shut

 

[sockpuppet]

Use the lock and unlock button on the drivers door panel, if there is two of you then get one to press lock and then unlock on the drivers door panel while the other bashes the blank next to the outside door handle (has the key hole on the drivers side) with the heel of their hand. If you are lucky it might unlock before your hand breaks. Make sure you have the lock as you will need to change immediately if you do manage to open the door.
http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?1015107

 

[Si_Bevan]

stuck passenger door

After quite a few months waiting for the parts and a break in the weather, I finally managed to sort out my nearside front door lock. Initial symptoms were intermitant locking and unlocking, eventually leading to the door not opening at all.
After discussing with various people on this forum and doing all the usual things, re-setting the central locking, changing fob battery, etc, etc, etc. I finally realised the door lock was broken completely. Bought one from eBay, about £25. The main problem with this job is getting to the door lock because the door is shut. Took some time to remove the two screws from the bottom of the door card (I left the seat in), I then manged to remove the door card. Doing this I ripped a lot of the plastic clips off and also damaged the door card, got a replacement from the scrappy for about £30 – really good condition.
Next was the window regulator and all that goes with that, I managed to get all the bolts out and manoeuvre it down so I could actually see the door lock. Also saw lots of lock bits (springs and things) in the bottom of the door. The lock is held in with two triple square bolts (M8) which you can’t get to because the door is closed. By now I was losing patience, so sitting in the passenger seat and with quite a long pry bar, I set about the door lock. After much swearing and bending of plastic, it finally gave way – it burst into a million bits actually. What was left was the actual mechanical door lock, I could just get me hand in and flicked the door open – THANK GOD FOR THAT.
One the door was open I could fit the new lock and replace a few other internal items, next was to refit the window regulator panel, re-sealing as I went. On with the replacement door card and all was good, all doors now lock and unlock as they should do.
My advice, as other have alluded to, to anyone who is experiencing intermitant locking problems is to change the door lock prior to is getting stuck shut. It’s a complete nightmare to do this with the door stuck shut.

 

[lewfletch]

Bit of a late reply here, that is why I have second thoughts in buying a used car AGAIN. The used one's front door that I have bought would not lock after a week that I got it. I tried replacing the lock mechanism with a new one by opening the inside panel, opening it got me so mad because everything was so rusty. I bought this new door lock mechanism from eBay to replace it but I guess I ended up messing something up because it would still not work. I had to take it to a car locksmith and thank god they did a good job with it. They also advised me to check every nook and cranny when buying a used car, which I have failed to do. Sigh.

 

[Rich.T]

Learnt this lesson with my last car.
When i bought my latest (just before lockdown) car, the seller sead the drivers door lock was a bit lazy. So bought a £25 special off ebay straight away. Its been sat in its box since then lol.

Then last week it started to play up. Changed it at the weekend.

Lesson learnt.

Rich

 

[Retiree2013]

The door lock is the problem not the central locking system, I’ve had this on my car twice and it’s a complete pig if the door is shut which mine was on both occasions,Check on your drivers front door first to see if you have 2 torx screws on the bottom of the door inside panel or you’ll never get it off, if you have then carefully remove the door shut capping below the door to get to them, if you don’t have them then whoopee doo ‘cos you’ve saved a lot of time. There is a first class YouTube Remove door lock on Seat Leon which is worthwhile as I could put it into print which you’d fall asleep looking at. The YouTube clip is better than words. The lock will need smashing up before you can get the door open so enjoy.
Andy G

 

[EUGENE]

Good day all ,

Iv had a read down the forum and there is some great info , BUT im sitting with a big problem as I have the passenger and one of the back doors locked shut. Iv try briefly to open the door panel but didn't get more than 20mm of access into the door once I forced it open. I was thinking of removing the seat and maybe that would help me get more access .

Iv also notice that the back speakers are also not working , im not sure it this is all a link problem regarding an electrical fault .

My first mission is to try open the door with out doing to much damage and then I can trouble shoot the problem . So if there is anyone that could kind help we with how to open the locked door that would be great.

Im also looking for the wiring diagram / drawings for the Seat Ibiza 2007 TDI.

I was thinking of trying to find the main central locking box and try switch the outputs and see if that work . So the drawing will help me find the control box.

Thanks guys

 

[Retiree2013]

Look on the YouTube channel where a good video of the equivalent VW Golf door is dealt with. Regarding the front passenger door first have a look at the drivers door right underneath and see if two Torx screws are securing it, if they are they will be on the passenger door too. To get to them carefully prise the bottom plastic cover for the door shut out. It means you’ll have to wind the passenger door window right down to do it. Once this is out the screws are able to be got out, the rest of the interior panel pull handle can be carefully prised off on the mid line using a wide paint scraper, done carefully it won’t mark the plastic. All the screws can then be undone. Pull the panel away from the door removing all the electrics and switches, the panel will be a pig to remove with the door shut but be careful and it will eventually come out. Have a look at the VW video for strip down of the steel interior panel and don’t deviate from it. Once this is done bash the daylights out of the door lock with a hammer and long chisel it will break up and let loose. Open door clear out any bits fit in new module and reassemble. The steel interior panel has a double sided weatherproof seal, this will tear when removed, get a cheap foam weather seal from screwfix and use this to replace original, forget this and water will come into the passenger compartment.