Rear hatch cover cord replacement?

2003_unicorns

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2024
Location
Virginia
TDI
2003 Jetta Wagon manual & 2003 Golf 2dr. manual
Hello,

I just bought my 03 Golf which included a cargo cover. Unfortunately the pictured part is missing on the other side.

I would like to see if this part is still available or there is some fix that looks OEM for it.

I am trying to restore this car but don't want a whole new cover. I would rather just do without.

Thanks.

 
Last edited:

golfclub

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 11, 2014
Location
Victoria B.C.
TDI
2000 TDI Golf
I just recently went through this same thing.
I had broken the plastic clip on one side.
I went to a wrecker and got a old cover which turned out to also have one bad cable.
I found out that it is possible to pry out the rewinding section on the back side and pull
the cable and clip through and out. I reused my one good rewinder to replace the broken one.
You just put the clip and cable through the hole and
snap the rewind spring into the housing. The whole thing is glued in place and tears the black
covering if you try to pry it off.
 

2003_unicorns

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2024
Location
Virginia
TDI
2003 Jetta Wagon manual & 2003 Golf 2dr. manual
I just recently went through this same thing.
I had broken the plastic clip on one side.
I went to a wrecker and got a old cover which turned out to also have one bad cable.
I found out that it is possible to pry out the rewinding section on the back side and pull
the cable and clip through and out. I reused my one good rewinder to replace the broken one.
You just put the clip and cable through the hole and
snap the rewind spring into the housing. The whole thing is glued in place and tears the black
covering if you try to pry it off.
Thanks for this. They absolutely dislike MK4s here for some reason so going to the junkyard always results in the drive there/wasting a few bucks for admission and no inventory. Yuck!
 

2003_unicorns

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2024
Location
Virginia
TDI
2003 Jetta Wagon manual & 2003 Golf 2dr. manual
Ended up buying these and after a few hacks turned out super. Works perfect.

Ezzy Auto Pack 2 Interior Rear Parcel Shelf String Tonneau Cover Strap Cord fit for VW Golf GTI Rabbit 1K6863447A https://a.co/d/b9HKpXF
 

Nuje

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Feb 11, 2005
Location
Island near Vancouver
TDI
2002 Golf 6MT; 2015 Sportwagen 6MT; 2016 A3 e-tron 6DSG
I find it mildly hilarious that my 20+yr old "budget-brand" VW Golf has retractable lines on the parcel shelf, along with a plastic clip that fits over the post on the C-pillar. While my wife's "luxury" brand Audi A3 hatchback from 2016 has that cheap-as-possible "here's a shoelace with a loop at the end" on its parcel shelf.

De-contenting: It's a thing, kids.
 

golfclub

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 11, 2014
Location
Victoria B.C.
TDI
2000 TDI Golf
Two little things that always bugged me about the rear hatch was having to unlock
it to open it and the broken cable not holding the cover up.
To solve the first irritant, I installed a small electrical switch on the bottom of the hatch that keeps
the latch unlocked . When I want it locked I just put the switch to on.
The other solution is mentioned above.
Maybe you can find someone parting out a car and have them mail you just the cable rewinder.
Cheers
 

Nuje

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Feb 11, 2005
Location
Island near Vancouver
TDI
2002 Golf 6MT; 2015 Sportwagen 6MT; 2016 A3 e-tron 6DSG
I installed a small electrical switch on the bottom of the hatch that keeps
the latch unlocked . When I want it locked I just put the switch to on.
Once you know how, it's pretty easy to edit the EEPROM of the CCM to have the locking of the hatch in sync with the door locks.
Unlock doors: hatch unlocks and stays unlocked until you lock the doors again. Pretty much obviates the need for the middle button on the remote.
 

2003_unicorns

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2024
Location
Virginia
TDI
2003 Jetta Wagon manual & 2003 Golf 2dr. manual
Two little things that always bugged me about the rear hatch was having to unlock
it to open it and the broken cable not holding the cover up.
To solve the first irritant, I installed a small electrical switch on the bottom of the hatch that keeps
the latch unlocked . When I want it locked I just put the switch to on.
The other solution is mentioned above.
Maybe you can find someone parting out a car and have them mail you just the cable rewinder.
Cheers
Nah, I am super happy with the fix honestly. That would be a huge waste of time.

Nuje is right below. You can edit the EERPROM of the CCM to fix all of that. Unfortunately if you are one bit off you can create problems like I did on my wagon. Shut the hatch and everything locks with it running. Gotta leave my windows open while getting fuel.
 
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