2007 GTI Doors won't lock with fob

[apeirologue]

Having an issue with my 07 GTI. When I get out of the car and lock it I can hear the faint noise of locking, but it doesn't actually lock and the lights don't go on indicating so. All the key does is engage the Alarm System, so I can still open the door but the alarm goes off.

The only way I can lock my doors right now is by pressing the lock inside and then manually locking the driver's door with the key. Any ideas as to why this is happening? I checked the fuse box and from what I could find online every fuse was fine.

 

[doc280]

Driver's door lock actuator has bit the dust. The actuators listed for $20 dollars, on Ebay, actually work very well.

 

[apeirologue]

Driver's door lock actuator has bit the dust. The actuators listed for $20 dollars, on Ebay, actually work very well.

I doubt it would be an actuator issue if the inside button works to lock the door, no? Seems like an issue between the fob and door control.

 

[doc280]

I had the same symptoms when I purchased mine and it was a new actuator that solved the issue. I actually had another failure two years later, the actuator would not read when the door was open, which caused a whole host of different problems. These actuators are a little more complex than most people think and can cause all kinds of issues when they fail.

 

[apeirologue]

I had the same symptoms when I purchased mine and it was a new actuator that solved the issue. I actually had another failure two years later, the actuator would not read when the door was open, which caused a whole host of different problems. These actuators are a little more complex than most people think and can cause all kinds of issues when they fail.

The key doesn't lock any of the doors, so would it be all 4 actuators?

 

[doc280]

Do you have the central lock feature activated?

 

[apeirologue]

Do you have the central lock feature activated?

I'm not sure as I recently got the car, how would I check if it is, and if not how would I activate it?

 

[BurgerGuy]

I've had similar issues with mine that I've been able to solve by opening, then closing every door (maybe the hood too) and the hatch. You could also try:

• Unlocking the car with the fob, then locking it again or vice versa. I've had to do this occasionally to get the passenger side door to unlock with the fob.
• Clear all faults. This fixed an issue where the car would lock/beep to activate the alarm, but I could still open the driver side door.
• Check the fob battery. When you press buttons on the fob a small red light should illuminate on the fob itself. As the battery dies certain buttons don't respond as well.

 

[apeirologue]

I've had similar issues with mine that I've been able to solve by opening, then closing every door (maybe the hood too) and the hatch. You could also try:

• Unlocking the car with the fob, then locking it again or vice versa. I've had to do this occasionally to get the passenger side door to unlock with the fob.
• Clear all faults. This fixed an issue where the car would lock/beep to activate the alarm, but I could still open the driver side door.
• Check the fob battery. When you press buttons on the fob a small red light should illuminate on the fob itself. As the battery dies certain buttons don't respond as well.

I tried the first one with no luck. My OBDEleven comes tomorrow so I will try that and will replace battery, thank you!

 

[BurgerGuy]

A sign of a dying battery on the fob is that the red light won't illuminate with a button press, but the buttons themselves may still work. As the battery continues to die the buttons will work more intermittently or eventually stop working altogether.

 

[doc280]

When I get out of the car and lock it I can hear the faint noise of locking, but it doesn't actually lock and the lights don't go on indicating so. All the key does is engage the Alarm System, so I can still open the door but the alarm goes off.

I read this and remain in the belief it is a weak drivers door actuator. This is exactly what mine was doing when I bought it. A $20 actuator and the humble mechanic has a DIY on YouTube, I am fairly sure will fix it.

I believe I did the central locking feature with Carista, sorry, I was confusing cars, My Audi's central locking is selected in the MMI.

 

[apeirologue]

I read this and remain in the belief it is a weak drivers door actuator. This is exactly what mine was doing when I bought it. A $20 actuator and the humble mechanic has a DIY on YouTube, I am fairly sure will fix it.

I believe I did the central locking feature with Carista, sorry, I was confusing cars, My Audi's central locking is selected in the MMI.

I'm beginning to think it might be as well, I will check out the HM guide on youtube, thank you for that recommendation.

What's bizarre now is that my driver's side locks with the key manually, and the two right-side doors lock with the key fob, but the rear left won't lock unless I do it manually through the side of the door by taking the rubber grommet off. I got these codes today from my OBDEleven, I wonder if these are common codes for actuator fails or if my wiring inside the door has gone bad.

Also I checked my battery and cleared all faults, no luck.

 

[doc280]

I would start with the drivers door lock actuator, and then move to the rear door if the problem persist. These actuators , even OEM, have been notorious for failure.

 

[vwengineer]

Can be door wiring also, push the boot and inspect the wires for cracked insulation/broken wires