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Electrical Problem - Drivers Side Door **PROBLEM SOLVED**
Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 8:27 am
by neilGTI
Over the weekend I have developed an electrical fault on the drivers door.
The window does not want to open it just “clicks”, and the heated mirror does not work also.
To make things more confusing, when the heated rear screen is turned on, the lights on the drivers side switches go out and then none of the windows can be operated from this side, when its turned back off, the lights come back on and only the passenger window will open.
So far I have:
- Checked all the fuses in the fusebox and under the bonnet
- Swapped the window switches round but still only the passenger window wants to open, drivers side just “clicks”
- Tried opening the windows by putting the key in the door but only the passenger side opens.
Has anyone got any other ideas on what I can check next please ?
I will ultimately be getting it on VAGCOM to see if that throws any fault codes up or gives me any pointers but for now I am willing to try anything.
Thanks
Re: Electrical Problem - Drivers Side Door
Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 8:43 am
by alexperkins
It sounds like you have a short circuit somewhere. Check the connection between the door and the car chassis to ensure its tight and no water has got in.
Re: Electrical Problem - Drivers Side Door
Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 8:47 am
by neilGTI
I will have a look at lunchtime (if i get a lunch lol)
Is the connections between the door and the car in a plug or do the cables just go through a grommet ?
Re: Electrical Problem - Drivers Side Door
Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 8:58 am
by alexperkins
Its a plug. it untwists about half a turn carefully with a pair of grips

Re: Electrical Problem - Drivers Side Door
Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 9:20 am
by neilGTI
Cool, cheers. I will have to wait until i get home to have a look at that then, what kind of things should i be looking for when i take it off ?
I hate electrical problems

Re: Electrical Problem - Drivers Side Door
Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 2:32 pm
by tegwin
Alex, you ever seen the door wiring loom on a T4 transporter?
After 5 years of opening and closing the doors every single cable in the loom had been warn through and snapped... does the polo suffer the same issue?
Re: Electrical Problem - Drivers Side Door
Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 7:36 am
by neilGTI
PROBLEM SOLVED
Turned out to be a broken cable between the door and the chassis, it was the big brown cable (earth) that had snapped.
I have temporarily jointed the cable using push on connectors until i can solder it properly.
Glad i can open the window again
Thanks to all who gave me advice, it is appreciated

Re: Electrical Problem - Drivers Side Door **PROBLEM SOLVED**
Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 8:58 am
by BobbyG
Nice one mate, hopefully I have a similar problem.
I've never removed the door card before, can you tell me exactly where this wire is?
Cheers,
Re: Electrical Problem - Drivers Side Door **PROBLEM SOLVED**
Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 9:10 am
by alexperkins
It's the cables that run through the rubber sleeve. between the door and chassis
Re: Electrical Problem - Drivers Side Door **PROBLEM SOLVED**
Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 10:20 am
by neilGTI
as alex said, you will have to pull the rubber away from the connector thats goes onto the chassis to inspect for broken cables and it can be a little fiddly getting the rubber back on.
You shouldnt need to take the door card off unless the cables are ok, but to remove the door card there are two screws behind the grab handle, one up the top of the door card by the mirror (on the side) and the rest are just push on clips so requires a good pull.
Re: Electrical Problem - Drivers Side Door **PROBLEM SOLVED**
Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 4:35 pm
by Bepe
exact same problem i had, but i took mine to a garage, charged me £15 so not to bad.