I know it's been 4 years, but even so: thanks! I just disassembled, cleaned, and rebuilt my rear hatch lock tumbler on my '03 GTI, and I wouldn't have known about that little piece without this video. Plus, the up-close video was helpful to get a sense of how it all worked before I disassembled mine. On mine, the original part is a magnet too, but less magnetic than what you used. I didn't measure, but I'd guess the original is 3X3mm instead of the 3X4mm that you used. For anybody else taking one of these apart, heads up: there is also an even smaller little magnetic locator disc inside the tumbler assembly. This only matters if you are taking the whole thing apart -- which I had to do to clean up all the gunked-up innards. The trickiest parts imho are 1) removing the spring with its clip. It comes off by sliding it off sideways at an angle, not by pulling it straight off. Kind of like how a c-clip comes off. And 2) not losing any of the little pieces!
Today I was trying to fix exactly the same thing and couldn't figure out what was wrong with that thing. Thanks to you, now I know. Great video and kudos to you, man!
Adrian, THANKS!!! I'd rebuilt my siezed hatch lock and was in circles trying to figure why the bloody thing wouldn't remotely unlock. A+ video, thanks for posting!!!
Oh my god. I was looking for the exact same problem for ages. I double checked everything but never thought of a missing piece. Thank you so much for sharing!
Bruh! You saved me an s load of time. I have the exact same problem, and was dreading the “taking apart and putting back together” in order to fix this thing…. Thank you.
I legit have passed this video 5 times thank the good lord you made this video tho oh my god been chasing my ass for days. I’m assuming the lock and unlock features won’t work either cause it’s not actually engaging the micro swift from not actually being turned. Literally thanks a million LOL especially for the size reference on the magnet!
So helpful and informative! I guess I'm not the only one disassembling bits of the Mk4 Golf trying to see what failed and what I can do. I unplugged the power lock mechanism on my hatch because it was not unlocking. Recently the mount for the piece at the top of the barbell that pivots broke. I had to fab a new piece to cradle that part because the force of trying to open the hatch would cause that part to become dislodged. I crawled into the hatch and popped off the interior panel so many times over this I ended up cutting an access hole in the inner panel. Now every time I open the hatch I can visually inspect the mechanism and the position of the parts. There's a position between locked and unlocked where the hatch just won't open. I never lock the car because there's no way of relying that it will unlock.
I had this problem for a year ago and I fixed it myself too. I baught a repair Set and changed the damage plastic pieces. This Bad Design of a combination of Metal and plastic in one Item is something popular in German cars. Audi, SEAT, VW, even BMW and Mercedes. All use plastic and Metal in thier doors, Windows and locks.
Adrian, thank you for making this video. there is very little information on how to service this doohickey. I actually had movement between the two pieces shown already, just not enough to move the angled inner catch piece into the proper alignment with the handle "arm". The handle side arm would just slip off the inner arm and not unlatch the door. Instead of trying to disassemble the mechanism, I ended up wrapping a strip of duct tape around the business end of the latch side arm several times, just to make it grab the inside catch arm easier. It worked like a charm. So if you dig into this mechanism and find that it does pull the secondary inner latch arm over, just not enough to properly engage, try this quick fix.
Thanks. I was fighting with the same issue. I disassembled my lock because the lock mechanism itself was seized. When I was taking it apart, the little ball fell out and I couldn't figure out where it came from. When I put it all back together (without the ball) I had the same issue that you were describing. Spent a fair bit of time pissing around with it already.
Thanks man, I couldn't figure out why the mechanism wouldn't open. Turns out that during disassembly, the damned little roller just fell into the trunk. Miraculously I found it, and after some cleaning & greasing, it works like a charm! Not sure how long the roller will hold though, it was already quite worn. Anyway, big thumbs up for your video!
Beautiful. just what I needed for my VW golf. One question for you. At 1.45 in the video it shows the white plastic piece with an electrical connector. Can you please tell me what is it called in technical name. I am trying to buy one but it does not have any part number and I do not know the name of the part or where can I buy it from. Once again I do appreciate the time and the effort you put in the video.
Glad to help. I'm not sure what the white piece is called, but from what I remember this assembly was sold as one unit and the parts were not available individually. I'd expect the best way to get a replacement would be to find another assembly and salvage the parts you need.
thanks i have an issue where only intermittently it doesnt unlock but it does make the actuator noise, i also cant get my key into the hole at all anymore like its stuck, would this fix my issue?
This fixed my problem for a while but then it failed again. I tried 3 different roller bearing replacements and they all fail after a handful of uses :(
Top video! I think this is the route cause of my problem as all electrics work! Just a quick question, do I need to remove the unit or can I sort this while still attached to the car? I have the trim removed and disconnected the rods already so I'm guessing I just need to remove the spring? Just pull it off??? Thanks...
I don't know how long ago you posted this but you can actually remove the spring from the mechanism just by twisting it off (like taking the key off of a ring)
I don't remember now (this was over a year ago), but from what I remember I probably wouldn't have done that for fear of damaging the spring. Good tip though, thanks.
Hi, I rewatched your videos for couple of time but I'm still struggling with how to remove the spring from the liftgate lock cylinder. Is there any methods to remove it as I can't find it though-out the internet.
I'm sorry; I remember what you are talking about, but not how I actually did it. I vaguely remember that it might have involved a set of pliers. I think I might have more or less just pulled it out.
I’m trying to fix one that won’t lock with the key or remote, but after a few minutes or sometimes longer you can come back and it locks on its own. You can hear it do it electronically. Then sometimes it will lock and unlock like it should for a couple of minutes if you’re goofing around with it. Then it stop again. However, it won’t ever let me lock it with the key, but when it does lock it will let me unlock it with remote and key. Could this still be the issue to getting it to lock manually at least?
That's weird. If it doesn't make a noise when you press the button on the remote then it's an electronic problem, otherwise something in here might help. It has been a long time since I looked at it, so it's hard for me to work through it mentally.
I went ahead and ordered a new lock cylinder with the coded key. I had to bite the bullet since I’m on a time crunch. Could the electronic part of the cylinder lock be the issue? It does have an electronic plug. I just don’t understand what signal goes where first. I already tried replacing the actuator and it still acted the same way. Only other thing besides the cylinder lock would maybe be the micro switch harness that plugs splits into a y to plug in the actuator and cylinder lock harnesses.
@@LncGmz I'm sorry, it has been too long. I don't even have this car anymore, so I can't look at it for reals (also, I'm going away for a week tomorrow so I'm in 100% GSD mode right now).
shared frustration. thanks. But the camera not being able to see what you are actually doing when assembling and dis-assembling is kinda adding said frustration.
Well, you know...I'll just go back in time 6 years and buy myself better lighting, a better camera, and some kind of proper mounting. I was still in university when I recorded this, I was working with what I had :p
My problem is the ....let's see.....how do I describe it..... the white thing (ring/socket?) with the slot where the bar is inserted - (pause at 3:10) that white thing is broken on mine. I've been trying to jury rig it, but because it seems to be a Teflon type thing, I can't get anything to adhere to it. Every time I pop the trunk the bar pops out of the hole/socket. UGH! Anyone with any ideas???
i have a problem, when i unlock the car, the boot won't open, as i press the button from boot(is a break, or estate as you say), but if i tap hard on VW logo twice, it works. should be this thing too? idk what to say.
Adrian, good afternoon I write you from Spain and I am translating this conversation because I do not know any English, I just saw your video of the golf lock4 and this problem is mine, but once the bonnet lock is disarmed, I see myself as impossible to be able to extract the spring from the lock, could you tell me how to remove it, since in the video I see that the unarmed lock is already to put the piece of metal, a greeting and I await your answer.
I wish I could help, but I no longer have this part an I'm afraid I don't fully understand the question. It is unlikely that I will be able to help, but best of luck.
Seven years later thank you very much. Huge time saver you are.
Happy to help, keep the old girls on the road :)
videos like this make youtube great
Paying it forward for anyone still struggling to get that spring back on: Thread the spring over the retainer.
I know it's been 4 years, but even so: thanks! I just disassembled, cleaned, and rebuilt my rear hatch lock tumbler on my '03 GTI, and I wouldn't have known about that little piece without this video. Plus, the up-close video was helpful to get a sense of how it all worked before I disassembled mine.
On mine, the original part is a magnet too, but less magnetic than what you used. I didn't measure, but I'd guess the original is 3X3mm instead of the 3X4mm that you used.
For anybody else taking one of these apart, heads up: there is also an even smaller little magnetic locator disc inside the tumbler assembly. This only matters if you are taking the whole thing apart -- which I had to do to clean up all the gunked-up innards.
The trickiest parts imho are 1) removing the spring with its clip. It comes off by sliding it off sideways at an angle, not by pulling it straight off. Kind of like how a c-clip comes off. And 2) not losing any of the little pieces!
Today I was trying to fix exactly the same thing and couldn't figure out what was wrong with that thing. Thanks to you, now I know. Great video and kudos to you, man!
Great! I'm glad this video is still helping people. Got to keep those Mark IVs going.
Adrian, THANKS!!! I'd rebuilt my siezed hatch lock and was in circles trying to figure why the bloody thing wouldn't remotely unlock. A+ video, thanks for posting!!!
You are ever so welcome :)
Oh my god. I was looking for the exact same problem for ages. I double checked everything but never thought of a missing piece. Thank you so much for sharing!
Bruh! You saved me an s load of time. I have the exact same problem, and was dreading the “taking apart and putting back together” in order to fix this thing….
Thank you.
Happy to help!
8 years later. Very thanks bro
I legit have passed this video 5 times thank the good lord you made this video tho oh my god been chasing my ass for days. I’m assuming the lock and unlock features won’t work either cause it’s not actually engaging the micro swift from not actually being turned. Literally thanks a million LOL especially for the size reference on the magnet!
You saved me about a thousand million years today.. 😅
Thank you 🙂
So helpful and informative! I guess I'm not the only one disassembling bits of the Mk4 Golf trying to see what failed and what I can do. I unplugged the power lock mechanism on my hatch because it was not unlocking. Recently the mount for the piece at the top of the barbell that pivots broke. I had to fab a new piece to cradle that part because the force of trying to open the hatch would cause that part to become dislodged. I crawled into the hatch and popped off the interior panel so many times over this I ended up cutting an access hole in the inner panel. Now every time I open the hatch I can visually inspect the mechanism and the position of the parts. There's a position between locked and unlocked where the hatch just won't open. I never lock the car because there's no way of relying that it will unlock.
Thank you very much! I searched for a long time for a solution.
Thanks dude
That's what i needed👍. Thanks to this tutorial i could fix mine. 🇨🇱🙋🏻♂️
Man...you saved me too. Thanks for sharing. Why VW does this is beyond me!
I had this problem for a year ago and I fixed it myself too. I baught a repair Set and changed the damage plastic pieces. This Bad Design of a combination of Metal and plastic in one Item is something popular in German cars. Audi, SEAT, VW, even BMW and Mercedes. All use plastic and Metal in thier doors, Windows and locks.
Adrian, thank you for making this video. there is very little information on how to service this doohickey.
I actually had movement between the two pieces shown already, just not enough to move the angled inner catch piece into the proper alignment with the handle "arm". The handle side arm would just slip off the inner arm and not unlatch the door. Instead of trying to disassemble the mechanism, I ended up wrapping a strip of duct tape around the business end of the latch side arm several times, just to make it grab the inside catch arm easier. It worked like a charm. So if you dig into this mechanism and find that it does pull the secondary inner latch arm over, just not enough to properly engage, try this quick fix.
Thank you very much!!!! could'nt understand why my electrical hatch was glitchy, it was enough to clear the grease from that notch for the roller
Thank you so much, it is exactly what I looking for.
Thanks. I was fighting with the same issue. I disassembled my lock because the lock mechanism itself was seized. When I was taking it apart, the little ball fell out and I couldn't figure out where it came from. When I put it all back together (without the ball) I had the same issue that you were describing. Spent a fair bit of time pissing around with it already.
+Chris Letcher Glad to have helped! It's a shame that there is such a lack of technical details available.
My god this was helpful thank you
Thanks man, I couldn't figure out why the mechanism wouldn't open. Turns out that during disassembly, the damned little roller just fell into the trunk. Miraculously I found it, and after some cleaning & greasing, it works like a charm! Not sure how long the roller will hold though, it was already quite worn. Anyway, big thumbs up for your video!
Thanks, I'm glad that I could help!
redroovednav how you remove the ring that keep the spring locked ?
Beautiful. just what I needed for my VW golf. One question for you. At 1.45 in the video it shows the white plastic piece with an electrical connector. Can you please tell me what is it called in technical name. I am trying to buy one but it does not have any part number and I do not know the name of the part or where can I buy it from. Once again I do appreciate the time and the effort you put in the video.
Glad to help. I'm not sure what the white piece is called, but from what I remember this assembly was sold as one unit and the parts were not available individually. I'd expect the best way to get a replacement would be to find another assembly and salvage the parts you need.
Hey man 100 times thanx to to this tutorial saved me a lot of headache!👍
No problem, happy to help.
Thanks dude! Very good breakdown. i thought I had A broken tab or stripped plastic part but Ill take it apart asap.
Great vid dude
I have the same problem. Thanks for taking the time to make this video!
+John Rogers No problem! I hope that at the very least having a dissection of the part will help.
thanks i have an issue where only intermittently it doesnt unlock but it does make the actuator noise, i also cant get my key into the hole at all anymore like its stuck, would this fix my issue?
Your the man. Thank you for doing this!,
Thank you so much, i found that 3.5 mm diameter roller bearing works better ;)
Well look at you being all fancy and actually having mechanical parts around :p
"Days of my life wasted!" thanks buddy.
you saving mine for shure I´m about to fix my soon´s car same problem, thank you stay well
I just went to the junk yard to get a pin and plastic lever arm, the plastic area broke where it contacts the roller. Thanks for the advise.
I'm glad you got it fixed! I guess after 15-20 years, that plastic can start to become a weak point.
This fixed my problem for a while but then it failed again. I tried 3 different roller bearing replacements and they all fail after a handful of uses :(
unlock it and unplug the power lock mechanism in the hatch. Nobody will know it's not locked.
Top video! I think this is the route cause of my problem as all electrics work! Just a quick question, do I need to remove the unit or can I sort this while still attached to the car? I have the trim removed and disconnected the rods already so I'm guessing I just need to remove the spring? Just pull it off??? Thanks...
I don't know how long ago you posted this but you can actually remove the spring from the mechanism just by twisting it off (like taking the key off of a ring)
I don't remember now (this was over a year ago), but from what I remember I probably wouldn't have done that for fear of damaging the spring. Good tip though, thanks.
Jeremy Mennifield how you remove the ring that keep the spring locked ?
Adrian Hall how you remove the ring that keep de spring locked ?
How does the spring come off?! Thanks
Honestly, it has been so long I couldn't tell you anything that's not visible in the video. My memory of this is quite faded.
Thanks, i fixed mine with the solution you find!
Awesom! Happy to help.
Hi, I rewatched your videos for couple of time but I'm still struggling with how to remove the spring from the liftgate lock cylinder. Is there any methods to remove it as I can't find it though-out the internet.
I'm sorry; I remember what you are talking about, but not how I actually did it. I vaguely remember that it might have involved a set of pliers. I think I might have more or less just pulled it out.
I’m trying to fix one that won’t lock with the key or remote, but after a few minutes or sometimes longer you can come back and it locks on its own. You can hear it do it electronically. Then sometimes it will lock and unlock like it should for a couple of minutes if you’re goofing around with it. Then it stop again. However, it won’t ever let me lock it with the key, but when it does lock it will let me unlock it with remote and key. Could this still be the issue to getting it to lock manually at least?
That's weird. If it doesn't make a noise when you press the button on the remote then it's an electronic problem, otherwise something in here might help. It has been a long time since I looked at it, so it's hard for me to work through it mentally.
I went ahead and ordered a new lock cylinder with the coded key. I had to bite the bullet since
I’m on a time crunch. Could the electronic part of the cylinder lock be the issue? It does have an electronic plug. I just don’t understand what signal goes where first. I already tried replacing the actuator and it still acted the same way. Only other thing besides the cylinder lock would maybe be the micro switch harness that plugs splits into a y to plug in the actuator and cylinder lock harnesses.
@@LncGmz I'm sorry, it has been too long. I don't even have this car anymore, so I can't look at it for reals (also, I'm going away for a week tomorrow so I'm in 100% GSD mode right now).
shared frustration. thanks. But the camera not being able to see what you are actually doing when assembling and dis-assembling is kinda adding said frustration.
Well, you know...I'll just go back in time 6 years and buy myself better lighting, a better camera, and some kind of proper mounting. I was still in university when I recorded this, I was working with what I had :p
My problem is the ....let's see.....how do I describe it.....
the white thing (ring/socket?) with the slot where the bar is inserted - (pause at 3:10) that white thing is broken on mine. I've been trying to jury rig it, but because it seems to be a Teflon type thing, I can't get anything to adhere to it.
Every time I pop the trunk the bar pops out of the hole/socket. UGH!
Anyone with any ideas???
That's a tough one. I wish I had some advice, but the whole thing depends on a tight, robust fit.
i have a problem, when i unlock the car, the boot won't open, as i press the button from boot(is a break, or estate as you say), but if i tap hard on VW logo twice, it works. should be this thing too? idk what to say.
I don't know, it's really hard to say without looking at it. The only way to tell is take it apart and take a peek.
Adrian, good afternoon I write you from Spain and I am translating this conversation because I do not know any English, I just saw your video of the golf lock4 and this problem is mine, but once the bonnet lock is disarmed, I see myself as impossible to be able to extract the spring from the lock, could you tell me how to remove it, since in the video I see that the unarmed lock is already to put the piece of metal, a greeting and I await your answer.
I wish I could help, but I no longer have this part an I'm afraid I don't fully understand the question. It is unlikely that I will be able to help, but best of luck.
gracias.
he basicly wanted to know how you got the spring out? cause it's stuck for him
The answer to my problem thanks
can I ask where you order that part from? The hook part on my mechanism broke. I tried to buy online but can't find anywhere!!
Beverly Bordeaux I think you are going to need to order an entire mechanism if you need any of these parts, unless you get lucky.
Beverly Bordeaux . I nu
Beverly Bordeaux
5hi hmm
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trunk lock release 98 gti
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Thank you.