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Thread: help with T4 tailgate lock

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    4

    help with T4 tailgate lock

    I have just bought a 2001 T4 Transporter
    It has central via Key which seems to have a mind of its own I also can not open tailgate with key I pulled interior off and found that a spring is missing from the key barrel arm to the opening mechanism
    enquiries to VW and wreckers for replacement indicate I must buy complete assembly $350 new 200 used
    can any one help

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    4
    Thread Starter

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Mt Cotton
    Posts
    3,752
    Have you checked right down into the bottom of the tailgate as if it has fallen off it should still be within the inner and outer skin , being flat it will most likely be stuck at the very bottom as there is usually a wax coating and it would get stuck there > you could try a magnetic tool to extract it or use a stiff wire to try and dislodge it .

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Adelaide South Australia
    Posts
    1,296
    If you could borrow a spring, it would be much cheaper to have one made than pay those prices.
    Understand how it works, troubleshoot logically BEFORE replacing parts.
    2001 T4 TRAKKA Syncro 2.5TDI,2006 Mk5 2.0TDI Golf manual,2001 Polo 1.4 16V manual [now sold], '09 2.0CR TDI Tiguan manual,
    Numerous Mk1 Golf diesels

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    4
    Thread Starter
    Quote Originally Posted by jets View Post
    If you could borrow a spring, it would be much cheaper to have one made than pay those prices.
    Tried looking in bottom of tailgate not there tried magnet


    love to borrow one but where??


    Cannot believe such a weak link in the mechanism not sold separately

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Mt Cotton
    Posts
    3,752
    How long have you owned a VW sorry I have to have a small laugh at this point . Those of us who have owned Modern European brands not just VW will tell you that what you expect is not reality . Todays car makers do not want to supply parts they are more interested in selling whole components . I found this out twice in the last year a bearing in the aircon fails so a $20 part ends up costing $1600 because they don't sell the part separately , then the fan under the dash fails two very simple carbon brushes worth $16 ah ! but no brushes are available as a separate part a whole new fan $480 . I know it sounds awkward but why not try and make one you can get some spring steel from a motor trimmer just spend some time winding it around a shaft and then shape the ends to suit .

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Near Hobart, Tasmania
    Posts
    4
    Users Country Flag

    My new T4 seems to have done the same thing...two days after we bought it!

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