posted 10-22-2006 01:25 PM         

I just bought a used 99 4 door Golf. It was sold as is because it has some work to be done which my mechanic fully checked out and can fix. I also checked pretty much all the small stuff, or so I thought.

When I click the keyless locking thing, the car goes beep and the driver's side door locks, and the alarm is set. Well my friend didn't realise it was "locked" and openned the passenger door. It wasn't locked, and the alarm went off. I checked again and again to the chagrin of my neighbours, and it simply isn't locking.

I also realise that none of the keys open the trunk!!!!!!! Is there supposed to be a seperate key? I didn't get one!

How could I not have checked this?! Is this weird? Is it expensive to fix? CAN it be fixed? Or perhaps I'm doing something wrong and it's actually totally fine?

posted 10-22-2006 08:12 PM         

On the door lock, the door lock actuator or wiring may be bad. Could also be the central locking unit. I would start my inspecting the wires that pass though the door jamb...they are in a black boot and the wires often crack. If the wires are OK, then open the door panel up anc check the actuator. Lastly get the control module tested...this is most expensive and probably requires special tools, which is why I suggest it last.

On the hatch lock, it sounds like the lock cylinder has been changed by someone that didn't change the tumbler's pins OR that lock actuator is bad too, seizing the cylinder in its current position.

posted 11-01-2006 08:29 AM         

It turned out that someone must have yanked the little nob up too hard and it was stuck against the metal. I removed the metal bit and it works now - more fragile than before, but at least it locks!

I'm now feeling happy with the car, it's so speedy!