So it was about 19 degrees here today (cold, for late March standards) and my door handle stuck. I pulled the door open, went to shut it, and the door just bounced (didnt latch). After 5 minutes, I got it to latch shut. Locked my doors, went about my way to work, and as im going down the interstate the door pops open! Luckily not the whole way cause the lock caught it, but I still almost needed a new pair of undies! What gives? Should I WD40 some of the latches??
Door Handle sticks when cold
- Thread starter mac5155
- Start date
TDIx2
Veteran Member
Did you wash your car lately? Drive your car with the heat on full hot till you almost melt down from all the heat. Then your door will most likely dry out and close.
It's been about 2.5 weeks since I washed it. I was thinking that may have happened too... of course, it's rained since then also, so the car wash point is kind of moot. When I went out to lunch today, it actually wouldnt open, I had to push the outer handle in, then pull it back out to open.
Dieselducky
Veteran Member
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- Oct 13, 2011
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- Dunnville
- TDI
- 88 Jetta Diesel - 2000 Jetta TDI - 04 BMW M3 - 06 Kia Rio - F350 Superduty - 87 Buick GNX - Mobile Cranes
I would use a silicone spray on the latches or dry graphite...WD40 and other oils tend to shrink the protective coating on electrical wires, exposing the copper wire inside..That can lead to all sorts of other "fun"...There is a pin switch in the latch!
jmarshall
Veteran Member
What did you try to do to fix it the last time and did it work?
PS, What part of PA are you from?
RedBug
Veteran Member
I would suggest that you take it in to the dealer and have them lubricate the mechanisms. It will give you the opportunity to find out what they use 
...
But seriously, the mechanism on these cars use a lot of plastics which means the will break more easily...
...But seriously, the mechanism on these cars use a lot of plastics which means the will break more easily...
metdijetta12
Member
I had this trouble the other day. It sucked...and I was late to work. The door wouldn't shut, it was -7F. I had to sit and hold the door shut with the heat on full blast until i could get it to shut. Unfortunately this car doesn't like the extreme cold. My windshield washer fluid refuses to come out in these low temps, even with winter washer fluid.
nkroeger80
Member
Its been in the low -30s here for the past few days (in F or C doesn't matter, its cold!) Block heater has been plugged in all night and I haven't had any problems. This car likes the cold, with the traction the control it is really hard to trick the car into sliding. I haven't had problems with door handles freezing, or windshield washer fluid freezing (I use rain-x deicer good to -40) windows haven't dislodged from the regulators (big improvement from mkiv) just thought I'd chime in with some positive news about this car!
Trolleyvw
Well-known member
Last few days in Buffalo NY have been pretty cold. About a week ago, it was 40s and then suddenly dropped to ~10f and on Christmas Eve, the passenger door wouldn't open from the outside. Stupidly, I went inside and opened from there and the door would just bounce off the door frame when trying to close. After spraying a bunch of liquid wrench in both the inside handle near the cable and near the actual latch, it shut, which took most of 20 mins.
Since then, the past few days have been a guessing game as to whether or not the pass. door would open for my girlfriend or not.
Aggravated to say the least.
Since then, the past few days have been a guessing game as to whether or not the pass. door would open for my girlfriend or not.
Aggravated to say the least.
ShawnShady
Veteran Member
Does this mean you have window down function via remote?
Lol, actually my old Accord did have that. I wonder if there's a way to program it via VagCom? The interior handle works just fine and doesn't cause the door to fail to shut. I just enter via the passenger side and climb into the drivers side. Get some weird looks but gotta do what ya gotta do.
jmarshall
Veteran Member
There is most certainly a way to program it with Vag Com
jmarshall
Veteran Member
PS, Do you have Vag-Com?There is most certainly a way to program it with Vag Com
I'll see if I can find the procedure