shaiboy_uk Posted September 8, 2006 Report Share Posted September 8, 2006 Hi all, First time poster, so please go easy on me I have a VW Passat Estate TDI 1.9 R Reg and within the last few days i've noticed that when opening the drivers door the inside lights aren't coming on light they should. All other doors bring the lights on, but not the drivers side. I know there is normally a door button thingy (don't know the name for it) that when the door is opened, it allows the lights to come on. But for the life of me I can't find it! or maybe this car is different. Can anyone point me in the right direct of the thing that needs to be fixed? Thanks Cheers Shaiboy_UK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteNova Posted September 8, 2006 Report Share Posted September 8, 2006 it's in the door catch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaiboy_uk Posted September 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2006 can it be replaced? Cheers Shaiboy_UK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wobby Posted September 8, 2006 Report Share Posted September 8, 2006 Find it and give it a clean and test first. Better to test it and see if it is the switch thats faulty. It could be wiring fault/ damage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaiboy_uk Posted September 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2006 is it on the door or the pilar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustynuts Posted September 8, 2006 Report Share Posted September 8, 2006 The switch is part of the lock mechanism inside the door. You have to strip the door card off, remove the lock mechanism, and replace it with a new one. The switch goes sticky or fails and doesn't turn the lights on. You can buy another switch the same, drill off the rivets which hold it on, and replace the switch if you can't afford a new mechanism. I've posted a how to on this before somewhere but I can't remember where it was. Maybe in the Golf / Bora section. There's also the possibility that the wiring is damaged in the area between the door and the hinges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaiboy_uk Posted September 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 Hi, Thank you for your replies. Seems the switch is going strange, as the wiring is fine, but if i open the door and it doesn't turn on the light, close the door then open it, it then seems to work! Might try some wd-40 Thanks Cheers Shaiboy_UK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustynuts Posted September 13, 2006 Report Share Posted September 13, 2006 WD40 will be of no use at all. Try some electrical contact cleaner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wobby Posted September 13, 2006 Report Share Posted September 13, 2006 [ QUOTE ] WD40 will be of no use at all. Try some electrical contact cleaner. [/ QUOTE ] I thought WD40 fixed everything I even cleaned my MAF with it!!! Although it was broke afterwards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaiboy_uk Posted September 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2006 where can I get electrical contact cleaner from? will halfords do such a thing, never heard of it before :S can it be sprayed in, like wd-40 would be? Thanks for your help guys. Cheers Shaiboy_UK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocrp Posted September 14, 2006 Report Share Posted September 14, 2006 I've had this problem as well, with the front passenger door. Now the central locking has gone funny on that door as well, though the lights have started working again. Don't bother with WD40, it won't help. Try this web page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meriafel Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 Silver vw. My drivers door has the same problem as interior light doesn't come on. Presumably the switch in the lock has failed which I understand also causes other problems. The alarm hasn't been told by this failed switch that the door has been opened so if you sit in the car it will after a short time set the alarm and the motion sensor will detect your presence and go off. It will also re-lock all doors. Try it as mine does. Does seem to be a time consuming job to get at this drivers door switch. Haynes is quite useless for these jobs. Let us know how you get on. I think Rustynuts gave me a link when I first raised my problem in the Passat section earlier this year. Will see if I can find it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocrp Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 Meriafel I don't have an alarm fitted, so I can't comment on that, but can imagine how frustrating it can be. I only have issues with using the internal central locking switch. When I lock, all doors lock as normal and then the faulty door will pop open again. This also happens if I lock the car manually outside with the key, from the drivers door. If I lock the car through the boot, it functions as normal. However, if I lock manually with the key in the faulty door, the central locking doesnt work at all. Very confusing. I am not going to attempt to repair it, as the lights are now working again (maybe the WD40 dried up ) and I can live with locking issue for the moment. A new lock module with all the microswitches will put you back aroud £95 from the dealers. I think the job is about 3 hours work. This might be the link you were talking about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meriafel Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 Thanks for info. It is exactly what I need and seems to be a better link than I previously had with more detail. Will attempt the job again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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