Any VW/Passat-ists in the house? Advice wanted...

[Cavcraft]

...latest Passat 'issue' is the boot won't open. It's a B5 saloon, 1998 dizzley bopper. No release lever inside the car that I can see, the key turns in the boot and I've tried locking/unlocking the car but to no avail. The boot handle doesn't feel like it's broken the springy thing and there's tension as you pull the handle.

Any ideas please? Pissed me off a bit as I've sorted all the other niggles out and even though I can access the boot from the inside of the car it's much easier (obviously) to open it as you're supposed to.

*I don't think there's a fuse for the boot by the way as it works off the central locking and the doors all open/close as they should. Not frozen up either.

 

Aside from filling the fucker full of waste thinners and chucking a lit match into it, any ideas as how to fix the problem please? Ta muchly in advance.

[pogweasel]

Have you tried turning it off and on again? (SRSLY)

[Pillock]

Is it a classic style ker-thunk boot release, or a newfangled microswitch jobbie? i.e. does the release button move more than about 1mm in order to mechanically move levers and shit about? Or is it just a little clicky thing?

 

MY hired Astra was just a microwitch, and that blew a fuse. Central locking still worked, but the boot wouldn't open (and the washers were dead too, same fuse).

[trigger]

I have a similar problem with my Bora, I can press the boot realise and it will open fine sometimes (It sounds like a electronic click when you press the button) then other times you press it and nothing happens, You have to keep pressing the central locking unlock button on the key fob until it works.

 

I'd like to know how to fix that as it's a right PITA.

[Torsten2001]

I had the same issue with an Audi of a similar age, I turned it off and on again and with a tug it seemed to work, I couldn't tell whether it was a faulty lock or a sticky boot seal, my solution was to sell the crock of teutonic shit before it happened again, I don't like Audis

[chester drawers]

It’s vacuum central locking on a B5. Can you hear the pump running on after you’ve pressed the button on the key fob or boot lid? That would suggest an air leak somewhere. The pump’s located in the boot floor and will be clearly audible if it’s running.

 

The boot lock stopped releasing on my B5; but the leak was actually from bellows mounted in a rear passenger door whose lock continued to work normally.

 

If the fault on your car is an air leak, plugging the pipe ends in each door in turn will help reveal where it is.

[Cavcraft]

Thankyou gents.

 

Not tried turning engine on/off as such, but this problem has been for the last few days and I've obviously had the engine on/off a few times in this period.

Now, regarding the key/s I have a seperate one for the doors which doesn't have a plipper and the key for the ignition which does have a plipper. I've never actually tried pressing it as daft as it sounds, I've just manualy locked/unlocked the car and I'm assuing the plipper won't make any odds as it's a different key without one as mentioned.

 

Not heard any continuation of pump running but in truth I've not listened out for it either so will have a try tomorrow thankyou. I think it's the classic kerthunk type release, though (typically) an internet search just now suggests it might be a microswitch jobbie ( http://www.ukpassats.co.uk/phpbb/viewto ... 34bb3b3e9a ) I say typically because Google had thrown up sod all of any help and I've just done a search through Yahoo which found me that website.

 

I'll try what you've suggested tomorrow gents, thanks for the advice.

[CreepingJesus]

Dunno if this'll be any help, but here goes...

If it's the vacuum type, the Heath-Robinsonish mechanisms between the handle and the lock body have wear pads in them. When they wear out, the locks misbehave. Both mine needed either/both of the driver's door and boot locks sorted. I used the centres from plastic drinks bottle caps, glued onto the worn pads, and filed down to suit.

In the case of the bootlock, I got sick of using the guitar string I rigged up to the 'emergency release' under the flap on the inside, and got on with sorting it properly.

[Cavcraft]

Cheers.

 

Went on an emergency fish collecting run to Liverpool just now. Pulled up outside the house, pulled the boot handle and it opened first go. How weird is that?

[Pillock]

An emergency fish run is very weird, yes.