Stupid door Switch!! $3 Fix!!!

ymz

Top Post Dawg
Joined
May 12, 2003
Location
Between Toronto & Montreal
TDI
2003 Jetta TDI Wagon, 2003 Jetta TDI Wagon
Well, small sample size and all, but... I've put in 2 eBay door modules (from the same seller), and neither one lasted more than a couple of weeks... (the motor that operates the lock is feeble)

YMMV...

Yuri.
 

Windex

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Apr 1, 2006
Location
Cambridge
TDI
05 B5V 01E FRF
They are better designed now - the microswitch has a metal tab on it which prevents the same issue from re-occurring.

I just replaced mine in my Passat - went with OEM from the dealer ($$$). For me, not having to take the door apart again is the biggest factor.
 

Vince Waldon

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Apr 25, 2009
Location
Edmonton AB Canada
TDI
2001 ALH Jetta, 2003 ALH Wagon, 2005 BEW Wagon
They are better designed now - the microswitch has a metal tab on it which prevents the same issue from re-occurring.

I just replaced mine in my Passat - went with OEM from the dealer ($$$). For me, not having to take the door apart again is the biggest factor.
Yup.. OEM ones have been upgraded... will be interesting to see if the off-shore version referenced above follows suit.
 

UhOh

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Dec 24, 2014
Location
PNW
TDI
2003 Golf GLS (2005 Mercedes E320 CDI)
Yup.. OEM ones have been upgraded... will be interesting to see if the off-shore version referenced above follows suit.
You can always ask the vendor/manufacturer. But, sometimes the answer might not meet reality: I had asked whether a door switch trim piece (armrest) was "soft-touch" and got the response that it was not; ordered and got the part and it DID have soft-touch!
 

underwhelmd

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2015
Location
Canada
TDI
1998 Beetle
Strip both sides and touch em to ground via jumper wire. Not sure what wire op used but that can be an easy test to see what side of brown to use for door closed.s

The thread what won't go away. :D Robnitro was onto something here ^^


The wire with the brown stripe that goes to the puddle light is it. Either bare a section and solder one end of the reed switch to that bared part or cut it and put the three pieces together with solder. Other wire from reed switch goes to ground as described in original instructions.

Once I did this, I have puddle light operational when door open, dome light operational when door open and warning if key in ignition when door open. It's done!
 

fouillard13

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2012
Location
Pincher Creek, AB
TDI
03 Jetta TDI Standard
I just ended up removing the light bulb from the socket and that seemed to make the door ajar light go away, it used to flicker on and off all day long, causing the alarm to go off at night and everything.

I havnt tested it yet, but I believe it would also fix my problem with the battery dying after a week too.
turns out my fix for this WAS that simple.

pop the lens off the offending doors puddle light. remove the lightbulb. put the lens back on. done! no more puddle light but who cares, better than taking the door apart which is like a full days work.
 

Ill Named

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2011
Location
Central BC
TDI
2001 Golf, 2003 Golf
Just a word of warning for those going to attempt the magnetic switch fix.

I ordered NO switches from a seller on amazon.ca. After attempting to install these I came to realize that the Chinese interpretation of NO vs what is actually NO is completely different.

Make sure you get switches that are on(closed) when the magnet is removed and off(open) when the magnet is near. The ones I received were the opposite. No good. At least it was only 10 bucks...
 

underwhelmd

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2015
Location
Canada
TDI
1998 Beetle
Just a word of warning for those going to attempt the magnetic switch fix.

I ordered NO switches from a seller on amazon.ca. After attempting to install these I came to realize that the Chinese interpretation of NO vs what is actually NO is completely different.

Make sure you get switches that are on(closed) when the magnet is removed and off(open) when the magnet is near. The ones I received were the opposite. No good. At least it was only 10 bucks...


Got you too, eh? I ended up buying on ebay because the ones I found on amazon couldn't be sure what N.O. meant.

This is the seller on ebay. There is a diagram and a picture midway down the listing that shows it works as required. Fast shipper....I had them in two weeks. YMMV.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Normally-OPE...h-Magnetic-Contact-BLACK-2pairs-/301970063250
 

benshaw

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2004
Location
51
TDI
Jetta bew
ive not gone through each post so it may be posted already, but u do realise you can buy the microswitchs with the correct fitting (2 little prongs) off of ebay.
 

steve6

Veteran Member
Joined
May 25, 2010
Location
Beaverton, ON
TDI
2003 jetta tdi
ive not gone through each post so it may be posted already, but u do realise you can buy the microswitchs with the correct fitting (2 little prongs) off of ebay.
you can get the right one in many places, such as electronic stores, the biggest problem is its a major pain in the butt to actually change it, so others have looked for alternatives
 

benshaw

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2004
Location
51
TDI
Jetta bew
which stores?
Iv only seen without the prong fittings.
if uve sealed a leaking inner door panel its not much more to pull the lock, the switch pushes out easily with a pin or flat s/d
 
Last edited:

aespTDI

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2008
Location
West Texas
TDI
'05 GLS
They are better designed now - the microswitch has a metal tab on it which prevents the same issue from re-occurring.

I just replaced mine in my Passat - went with OEM from the dealer ($$$). For me, not having to take the door apart again is the biggest factor.
Might have missed it but any part numbers you can share?
 

BobnOH

not-a-mechanic
Joined
May 29, 2004
Location
central Ohio
TDI
New Beetle 2003 manual
You may want to go back and read post #1. This whole thread is all about various alternatives and methods of solving this design defect.
Replacing the entire door latch assembly is just one method, not necessary for most issues.
 

wonneber

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 12, 2011
Location
Monroe, NY, USA
TDI
2014 Jetta Sportwagon,2003 Jetta 261K Sold but not forgotten
Oh I assumed we were talking about the microswitch? I guess they wouldn't be selling just that part huh :confused:
There was a post a long time ago with a Radio Shack (ugh) switch that would work.
It would have to be glued in place and the contacts need short wires to connect to the circuit board.
I could have installed it but it was not water proof for the location.

Rich W.
 

mjydrafter

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2015
Location
dsm, ia
TDI
2004 Jetta Wagon
There was a post a long time ago with a Radio Shack (ugh) switch that would work.
It would have to be glued in place and the contacts need short wires to connect to the circuit board.
I could have installed it but it was not water proof for the location.

Rich W.
I used one in my wife's Passat. I was able to use a couple of very small screws and nuts to secure it.

RS PN: 275-0016
SPDT submini lever switch.
 

mintyepicness

Active member
Joined
Jul 29, 2010
Location
Georgia
TDI
03 Golf
Attempting to troubleshoot mine which started recently. Dashboard light shows door always open, and I get the random re-arm after unlocking with keyfob.

Driver door = puddle light always off
Passenger door = puddle light always on

I pulled the driver panel, and clipped the brown/white going for a quick fix, but that didn't help. I did notice brown/white on driver side shows 5V at the puddle light, and brown/white on passenger shows ground.

Not sure where to go from here, I hate to yank the interior panel if the issue isn't in the microswitch. Any ideas?
 

shoebear

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2002
Location
Colorado Springs, CO
TDI
1998 Jetta, 2003 Jetta Wagon, 2005 New Beetle, 2013 Sportwagen
Attempting to troubleshoot mine which started recently. Dashboard light shows door always open, and I get the random re-arm after unlocking with keyfob.

Driver door = puddle light always off
Passenger door = puddle light always on

I pulled the driver panel, and clipped the brown/white going for a quick fix, but that didn't help. I did notice brown/white on driver side shows 5V at the puddle light, and brown/white on passenger shows ground.

Not sure where to go from here, I hate to yank the interior panel if the issue isn't in the microswitch. Any ideas?
The puddle light power goes directly through the switch in the door lock module. However, there is a small computer in each door called the door control module (DCM). The same signal that powers the puddle light is an input to the DCM, which then interprets it, converts it to a CAN bus message, and sends it to the main comfort control module. Of course, the way a computer interprets a noisy signal from a failing switch is probably quite different from the affect of the same signal powering an incandescent bulb. Good luck!
 

mintyepicness

Active member
Joined
Jul 29, 2010
Location
Georgia
TDI
03 Golf
The puddle light power goes directly through the switch in the door lock module. However, there is a small computer in each door called the door control module (DCM). The same signal that powers the puddle light is an input to the DCM, which then interprets it, converts it to a CAN bus message, and sends it to the main comfort control module. Of course, the way a computer interprets a noisy signal from a failing switch is probably quite different from the affect of the same signal powering an incandescent bulb. Good luck!
Thanks! So I wonder if doing the magnet mod by the fuse box and wiring it directly to the comfort module (instead of the puddle light) would do the trick.
 

mintyepicness

Active member
Joined
Jul 29, 2010
Location
Georgia
TDI
03 Golf
Checked doors with the vagcom today.. can anyone confirm what I'm looking at for a 2dr golf?

Group 08: Closed | Not Oper | Closed | No
3rd block appears to be rear hatch and that correctly shows open or closed
Group 10: Door Closed | Door Open | NI | NI

Open/closing driver and passenger door do not change the output. I am guessing it thinks driver is always closed and passenger always open?
 

shoebear

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2002
Location
Colorado Springs, CO
TDI
1998 Jetta, 2003 Jetta Wagon, 2005 New Beetle, 2013 Sportwagen
Thanks! So I wonder if doing the magnet mod by the fuse box and wiring it directly to the comfort module (instead of the puddle light) would do the trick.
Sorry for not replying sooner. The signal to the comfort module is a data packet sent over the CANbus network. To do as you suggest, you would have to develop your own CANbus module that would interface to the network, then mimic the door control module (DCM) so the comfort module would recognize it. Might require some coding changes for the comfort module. Maybe you could do it with an Arduino, etc. -- but it would be much, much easier to provide a clean signal to the door module, which already handles the CANbus networking. You can provide that signal several ways: replace the microswitch in the lock module, set up a magnetic switch instead, you could even set up a manual toggle switch or maybe a plunger switch. But regardless, the key to any of these methods is to provide the correct on/off signal to the DCM.
 
Last edited:

shoebear

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2002
Location
Colorado Springs, CO
TDI
1998 Jetta, 2003 Jetta Wagon, 2005 New Beetle, 2013 Sportwagen
Checked doors with the vagcom today.. can anyone confirm what I'm looking at for a 2dr golf?

Group 08: Closed | Not Oper | Closed | No
3rd block appears to be rear hatch and that correctly shows open or closed
Group 10: Door Closed | Door Open | NI | NI

Open/closing driver and passenger door do not change the output. I am guessing it thinks driver is always closed and passenger always open?
I would have to look in the VCDS documentation to answer that. Is your interior light (controlled by the comfort module) always on unless you turn it off manually? If so, one of your doors is stuck with a door open signal to the DCM. On the other hand, if it's off and doesn't turn on when a door is opened, then that door's switch is stuck with a door closed signal to the DCM.

Check your PM's.
 
Last edited:

mintyepicness

Active member
Joined
Jul 29, 2010
Location
Georgia
TDI
03 Golf
I would have to look in the VCDS documentation to answer that. Is your interior light (controlled by the comfort module) always on unless you turn it off manually? If so, one of your doors is stuck with a door open signal to the DCM. On the other hand, if it's off and doesn't turn on when a door is opened, then that door's switch is stuck with a door closed signal to the DCM.

Check your PM's.
Thanks!! I am on the road today, I may tinker with it again next weekend and give you a call if you're around. Not a huge deal, just one of those annoying quirks. If I can make the car think the doors are closed I'll be happy to get rid of the auto-locking and lights on always (I pulled the bulbs for now)

JB05 I will take a look at that solution, thx

The original one I was referring to is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EPTthMZji8

The guy taps into the CCM instead of the wire at the puddle light
 

Ravyn

Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2015
Location
Knoxvegas, TN
TDI
97/98 Jetta, 06 Jetta
Stupid &^%$ door!

Okay, my problem seems to be related to the front passenger door. The door catch assembly seems to be working fine. However, my door ajar switch stays lit, interior lights stay on and the door can not be locked. Am I looking for the same switch that was replaced in this thread? I would take it to a mechanic but I don't really trust the dealership or the popular vw repair shop.
 
Top