MOT PASS! Scrappage scheme rebellion, RFU rescues ANOTHER car from the jaws of the crusher!

[wuvvum]

Or are these the same as the Mk5 (?) Golf where the whole lock unit shits itself completely and the only way to get in is to attack the door with a grinder?

[RoverFolkUs]

5 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

I bought a Citroën C2 once on which the nearside door had deadlocked itself.  I persuaded* the door card off the door, then stripped a bit of insulation off all the wires running to the lock mechanism and applied 12v to each until there was a thunk and the door unlocked itself.  This may or may not work on a Polo - and you obviously know what you're doing far better than I do.

Does vary case by case, in this case it's easier to destroy the lock mechanism and replace it. 

On my MG the passenger door was deadlocked shut, caused by the body control module being faulty so it didn't make sense to destroy the lock unit as there was nothing wrong with it. But since the lock unit is faulty in this case I might as well destroy it to gain entry as I'll be replacing it anyway

[RoverFolkUs]

2 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

Or are these the same as the Mk5 (?) Golf where the whole lock unit shits itself completely and the only way to get in is to attack the door with a grinder?

On the MK5 golf you can only gain access to the door innards by removing the outer door skin, so with those, unfortunately yes. 

It's accessed from the inside on these polos, so remove the door card as carefully as possible, remove the window mechanism (big metal plate design) and then there's all the room you'll need

[Dobloseven]

Would it be worth trying to source a complete door in the right colour including door card etc ? That way you could just go mental getting the old one open not worrying about damaging anything.

[bunglebus]

Before you destroy anything, pull the outer handle and use a pick to ping the cable off - they sometimes get stuck with a bit of tension preventing the mechanism releasing - saved my bacon on my Passat once after I changed the inner Bowden cable and then couldn't open the door from inside or out!

The cable has a kind of ribbed plastic end that pushes into a matching slot, it can go in multiple places to set the tension (as I'm sure you know)

 

[ProgRocker]

Ah! When Volkswagen made the Polo like a miniature Mercedes E Class at the front.  

[Andyrew]

On 24/01/2025 at 13:25, RoverFolkUs said:

I used to like me, but never fear, it won't be staying!

Fuck! I should have stayed quiet. Karma came knocking or should i say rattling due to low oil as the oil filters so old its rusted through. Maybe even the original filter. 

Not been serviced in minimum last 5 years they owned it.

[Spiny Norman]

10 hours ago, ProgRocker said:

Ah! When Volkswagen made the Polo like a miniature Mercedes E Class at the front.  

But with less rust.

 

[RoverFolkUs]

On 25/01/2025 at 20:24, Andyrew said:

Fuck! I should have stayed quiet. Karma came knocking or should i say rattling due to low oil as the oil filters so old its rusted through. Maybe even the original filter. 

Not been serviced in minimum last 5 years they owned it.

Bloody hell, that sort of neglect on a 67 plate car!

[RoverFolkUs]

Update time: I'll keep it brief

Managed to gain entry to the rear door as follows: 

Strategically drill a hole to access that screw for the jammed deadlock, unscrew it, the door now pops open!

Then replace the door latch as you normally would. 

Front end all done, it only failed on the offside front spring but I figured given how cheap the parts were I decided I'd just do both front springs, shocks and top mounts while I was there. Also replaced the N/S/F ARB drop link and D bush which were slightly worn. 

I'll do a full list of all the new parts when it's done, but: 

That's the polo now officially RESCUED from the crusher! Sent it for a retest, clean bill of health including all the advisories knocked off as I sorted those as well. 

Just some tidying up and a service to do then it will be ready to find a new home.