Drivers side door catch

Alex C

Alex C

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I've seen this mentioned a few times, the door catch doesn't catch which results in the door bouncing of the striker when it's closed.

I've checked with VW/Audi and they no longer stock the item (8L2837016B)

I was told to look for 'Audi Tradition' and found this: https://trshop.audi.de/konakart/Sel...&category=Structure&name=DOOR LOCK&model=0001

On the other hand there are 'OEM Quality' parts on ebay such as this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DOOR-LOC...h=item1ec4cfbe09:g:fBgAAOSwMvtZSpE9:rk:1:pf:1

What have other people done in this position or would would people recommend? Any experience with these ebay parts?

Cheers
Alex
 
Mine done this the other day kept bouncing off I just greased it all up
 
yeah mine has been doing it for years and its pretty bad atm. The car was serviced a few weeks back and they 'helpfully' applied a thick grease to the mechanism which clagged it up sufficiently to stop it operating reliably. I took the door card off and blitzed it with WD40 which was sufficient to keep it working so long as you know not to slam the door expecting it to catch. But I daren't put the door card back on should it decide to seize up again
 
Alex C said:
I've seen this mentioned a few times, the door catch doesn't catch which results in the door bouncing of the striker when it's closed.

I've checked with VW/Audi and they no longer stock the item (8L2837016B)

I was told to look for 'Audi Tradition' and found this: https://trshop.audi.de/konakart/SelectProd.do?prodId=69853&manufacturer=manufacturer&category=Structure&name=DOOR LOCK&model=0001

On the other hand there are 'OEM Quality' parts on ebay such as this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DOOR-LOC...h=item1ec4cfbe09:g:fBgAAOSwMvtZSpE9:rk:1:pf:1

What have other people done in this position or would would people recommend? Any experience with these ebay parts?

Cheers
Alex
Click to expand...

The NEW OEM one you have linked to is not the right one - I bought one last year and it is nothing at all like the S3 one unfortunately - so DO NOT buy one.

I ended up buying a second hand unit from a breaker
 
Alex C said:
The ebay one in the 2nd link doesn't fit?
Click to expand...

No mate, definitely not. The A3 / S3 ones are pneumatic activated and are a square unit.

The one in the link is more like a golf or a tt one. Trust me I bought one last year. They admitted the advert was wrong but still they are advertised as fitting the 8l
 
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Does your door open sometimes when you are driving over bumpy roads? Mine never recovered after spraying white grease into the mechanism I think a little spring dislodges.

Quite expensive replacement part.
 
it used to open when going over those rumble strips approaching roundabouts and going over bumps. Hasn't done that for a few years now though
 
Tj 0785 said:
Mine done this the other day kept bouncing off I just greased it all up
Click to expand...
Yeah that didn’t last long it’s bouncing off again I’m going to have to swap it did you sort one?
 
No haven't managed to get hold of a replacement yet. All the 'new' ones on ebay aren't correct and the second hand ones are for the passenger side
 
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Dont mean to hijack the thread, but is this part shared with any other vag cars? Or is it exclusive to 8l S3?
 
From what I can make out it's peculiar to the S3. The TT and the Golf use electric motors to actuate the door lock when operated remotely whilst the S3 uses a pneumatic system
 
I'm another with the exact same problem... Actually posted last night about it, but haven't had any replies on the thread.
Replaced my driver's side one with a second hand unit a few months ago and it's started doing it again, as well as the passenger side one popping open randomly while driving.
Even second hand mechanisms seem to be a pain to get hold of. Every time I message someone breaking one they always want to sell the door complete.
 
I'm fairly sure that this is the same part as an A3. I had this problem, and the fella that fixed it told me he used a donor A3 for the part.
 
Rogue.Goofball said:
I'm fairly sure that this is the same part as an A3. I had this problem, and the fella that fixed it told me he used a donor A3 for the part.
Click to expand...
Do the A3s have pneumatic locks? If not they won't be the same. Unless there's parts that can be swapped between them?
I've also noticed that part numbers vary slightly. Anyone know why? They all look the same/similar...
 
Last edited:
My passenger door has started doing this.

I thought it was because it was frozen and even poured hot water on it then it started to work again.

Only started doing it since the minus temperatures hit.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
when I was looking for a replacement drivers door mechanism I thought they were different to the A3 8Ls.

This apparently fits though a3, a4, tt, s3? only 4 left

Upload 2019 2 3 12 19 29
 
Stuart B said:
when I was looking for a replacement drivers door mechanism I thought they were different to the A3 8Ls.

This apparently fits though a3, a4, tt, s3? only 4 left

View attachment 174942
Click to expand...
Don't think that would fit. Looks totally different to an actual 8L mechanism.
I was looking on ebay last night, A3 mechanisms do appear to be the same, but just have slightly different part numbers
 
The passenger side door lock I got from a German LHD a3 seems to fit my RHD drivers door ok.
 
I've just bought a couple off ebay. Driver's door one from an A3/S3, presumably a 3 door car, and a passenger front from an A3, I'm guessing a 5 door. Both look similar, just slightly different part numbers, so will see if they fit and work when I get them.
Think I might take apart my knackered passenger side one, see if I can identify what's failed/loose.
 
That's an excellent experiment, at least people will know the compatibility options then.
The reason I can't see them working on a TT is there's a door sensor to drop the window 1cm when it's opened.
 
hydro s3 said:
Has anyone sorted there drivers door not closing? Mime has started to do it to day.
Any links or tips of where to pick one up would would be great.
Click to expand...

As the temp is higher mine has been fine. It’s really hard to find any part for these.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
The temperature here is fine it's pretty mild for this time of year. I think I just need a new catch. I will ask a few breakers on fb and see what's about.
 
I was hoping to have taken delivery of a couple of A3 ones by now to see if they fit, but never received them from the seller and now awaiting refund/ebay intervention.
Mine have been better since the milder weather too. Passenger one hasn't been popping open while driving as often. I know a good soaking in WD40 or duck oil helps for a bit, but a very temporary fix
 
how is this not a recall - the door opens whilst driving along the road
 
Only recall I could find is for rear ball joints seizing on pfl models... They're maybe not aware of the issue with the mechanisms, or they're just not interested due to the age of the cars?

hydro s3 said:
Mine only started doing this after I had squirted wd40 into the lock.
Click to expand...
That's odd, cos it helped my driver's side one for about a week before having to do it again :shrug:
 
I had the problem where you would close the drivers door and it would bounce off the catch. The door wouldn't actually open while driving, as it is a double catch, but you couldn't be driving with it like that. It got so bad, you had to close it super gently from the inside, and caress it closed from the outside. I had lads trying to realign the door/window in case that was it, but it wasn't. Replaced my mechanism with one from a 2000 A3 (I've a 2002 S3) and its worked fine since.
 
TurboGriffin said:
Only recall I could find is for rear ball joints seizing on pfl models... They're maybe not aware of the issue with the mechanisms, or they're just not interested due to the age of the cars?


That's odd, cos it helped my driver's side one for about a week before having to do it again :shrug:
Click to expand...

Mine only started when I sprayed white grease into all the locks, hinges etc.
 
Hmm. Wonder if a good clean would work then? Maybe the grease is causing something to move too easily, or clogging it up.
I might strip (if I can) and clean one of mine, see how it is after.
 
TurboGriffin said:
That's a good point actually...
Anyone looked into it?

Even my mum's car, a 57 plate Peugeot 107, was recalled at the start of the month for leaky seals around the boot/rear wiper...
Click to expand...

Our e46 52 plate M3 was recalled for airbags!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
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