T5 Dual Cab Electric Window Switch and Rear Door Panel Removal

[Tornado]

Hi,

I have a problem with the passenger side door electric window switch and need to access the connections. I have read that the switch connections can corrode.

Do I need to remove the whole door panel or will the switch panel pop out when pried with a screw driver? The same as other items on the dash?

I also need to remove a rear door panel on a T5 Dual cab are the plastic pins holding the panel screwed off or pried open?

Thanks

[Tornado]

Hi, I'm back.

If in doubt look about, the brickyard uk had some info regarding the front door trim on a T5 How to remove Door Card/Trim - Pics - The Brick-yard

I will attempt this tomorrow with my fingers crossed.

They say the first sign of being crazy is answering yourself........This explains a lot..

Cheers

[mikinoz]

I have done the passsenger door and cleaned the contacts on the window motor. Unforunately, soon after, it stopped again.

To remove the passenger door you need to use a bit of force to get the clips to pop off, but they do come.

You need to remove the top trim, the handle pull, the release lever, the panel in the pocket as there is a screw under and then the 3 screws along the bottom and then you can give it a tug.

Once removed you might need to reset the retaining clips for them to plug back in.

Best of luck, I have not done the rear tailgate.

[Tornado]

Thanks Mikinoz.

I appreciate the first hand information. It provides a bit more confidence when doing these little things.

[Tornado]

I removed the front passenger door trim, removed the electric window switch and confirmed that the internal mechanism of the switch had corroded due to water ingress.

The switch appears to be U/S with a resistor being shorted out. I might try my local mobile-phone repairman. He might be able to replace the resistor.

When removing the door panel the door handle capping is an absolute pain and the 6 trim clips need a bit of force to remove.

I found that the switch can be removed without taking the door panel off by using the corner of athin small metal ruler pushed into the clip at the front of the switch housing while gentle prying the housing up to allow the corner of the metal ruler to push the clip. The clip can just be seen in the 2nd photo on the brickyard referenced in the 2nd post.

Cheers

[Tornado]

Just to note....

Switch replaced and all okay $45. The resistor was actually open cct on the up mechanism and approximately 160 ohms on the operating down mechanism. This should assist anyone in the future testing the switch operation.

The rear door mechanism has started to work again after pulling the plug under the drivers seat. I did remove the door trim and once again the door handle is a pain. I guess that is due to the wear and tear it is to withstand overtime.

I am not sure if the problem is with the plug/wiring under the seat or the plug and wiring in the rear passenger door. I will wait for the fault to develop further as this may isolate the issue and not waste my time.

It concerns me that there is no way of overiding the door locks. I assume that depending on the situation that all doors will unlock i.e. fire, major collision.

Cheers

[aSimpleLife]

I found that the switch can be removed without taking the door panel off by using the corner of athin small metal ruler pushed into the clip at the front of the switch housing while gentle prying the housing up to allow the corner of the metal ruler to push the clip.

Thanks for the advice. The drivers button on my drivers side switch broke and wouldn't go up or down. I was able to follow your instructions and remove it.
Didn't get a quote from VW - but found one on ebay for $18 inc freight - ordered it from a 99.9% positive feedback supplier in Cyprus - shipped out of Turkey via DHL - ordered Friday midnight - received from Australia Post Thursday morning - pretty amazing.
And it works...looks the same as the original and seems to function the same.
With parts prices like this maybe I will be able to afford to maintain my T5 in the long term?
They even promptly answered my question about whether this was the correct part because at that stage I had not removed the old switch.

[aSimpleLife]

Well...so much for my bargain switch from Cyprus...lasted 12 months...versus 5 years for the original.
It's more urgent this time...window was down instead of up...and the car's parked on the street ...
So I've just bought the original T5 electric window switch drivers side from VW for $82.15 inc gst
Part - VW7E0959855B9B9