6.1 Coast sliding door stuck closed

[Themadwife]

Help please - just filled our 6.1 Cali Coast with trimmings from allotment,, driven home, but side door wont open from outside or inside, any suggestions please.

Nothing apparently stuck in door.

Door shows as 'open' on ignition screen, but looks closed from outside.

 

[MyrtleMoo]

Help please - just filled our 6.1 Cali Coast with trimmings from allotment,, driven home, but side door wont open from outside or inside, any suggestions please.

Nothing apparently stuck in door.

Door shows as 'open' on ignition screen, but looks closed from outside.

Any chance that something got trapped in the door contacts? That happened to us once with a jacket hung on the back of the drivers door. Door wouldn't open, but luckily we were able to pull the jacket free and that sorted it. Maybe some leaves got caught in there?

 

[Themadwife]

Any chance that something got trapped in the door contacts? That happened to us once with a jacket hung on the back of the drivers door. Door wouldn't open, but luckily we were able to pull the jacket free and that sorted it. Maybe some leaves got caught in there?

possibly, but cant see : (

 

[CC44853]

Give it a good old push from the outside, near the handle

 

[Themadwife]

Give it a good old push from the outside, near the handle

no luck : (

 

[Resfeber]

Is your door on the coast a manual door?
Having just taken apart my side door for another reason (Could not use the inside handle to close the door when latched in the fully open position).
I can confirm that the outside handle and the inside handle are separate units with a shared connection block in the door to open the door lock at the rear.
It is most unlikely that they have both failed at the same time.
I think that something became jammed in the rear latch when you shut the door and this is why neither outside or inside handles will release the latch at the rear of the door to allow it to move out and slide rear wards.
When you activate the central locking from the driver side button can you hear the lock activate in the side door (should be a solid clunk)
If not this would confirm the latch is jammed.
I would suggest someone on the outside pulling the handle and someone on the inside pushing outwards at the rear seat end of the door to free the latch.

 

[Themadwife]

Is your door on the coast a manual door?
Having just taken apart my side door for another reason (Could not use the inside handle to close the door when latched in the fully open position).
I can confirm that the outside handle and the inside handle are separate units with a shared connection block in the door to open the door lock at the rear.
It is most unlikely that they have both failed at the same time.
I think that something became jammed in the rear latch when you shut the door and this is why neither outside or inside handles will release the latch at the rear of the door to allow it to move out and slide rear wards.
When you activate the central locking from the driver side button can you hear the lock activate in the side door (should be a solid clunk)
If not this would confirm the latch is jammed.
I would suggest someone on the outside pulling the handle and someone on the inside pushing outwards at the rear seat end of the door to free the latch.

will give it a go, when hubby back from dog walk!

 

[Resfeber]

will give it a go, when hubby back from dog walk!

This post is quite comprehensive as to the causes of the stuck side door, how to release (as I suggested as the first option) and then a deeper dive into how to open the door if the push and pull method doesn’t work.

Thread 'Sliding door stuck'
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/sliding-door-stuck.39728/

The key issue is that if the push pull doesn’t work, the door still needs to be opened to get the door card off.
See the power off method at post #15

This is how the lock operates.
There are cables from both internal & external handles to the central locking motor and then a drive rod to the rear lock.
The electric side also drives the soft close feature. However, in the event of complete electrical failure the mechanical cables (especially the inner handle) operate the drive rod and unlock the door (as required if the vehicle had lost power following an accident)
The “lock” is performed by a strong metal hook or pawl being rotated and engaged around a hoop on the vehicle “C” pillar
1 Hook open and ready to latch

2 Hook encircling rod and starting to lock
(Screwdriver simulating hoop on “C” pillar)


3 Hoop on “C” Pillar that lock hook-engages with as door is pulled into closed position.
NB first part of the hoop latches the door and the soft close electric motor Rotates the hook further and engages the hook with the second part of the hoop, clamping the door tight into the opening.
If the electrical contacts on the front of the door have been obscured by debris and not making contact then the soft close is likely not operating when trying to open the door so not releasing the pressure on the door lock preventing you having enough leverage on the handle to use the mechanical mechanism to release the lock.




4 Internal of rear of door showing soft close motor (circled in red) and drive rod/cable (circled in white)



Good luck

 

[Jenny H]

Not much help but I noticed yesterday my side door wasnt sliding freely & wonder if its due to the incessant rain & non use over the winter?!

 

[Photo Nan]

Help please - just filled our 6.1 Cali Coast with trimmings from allotment,, driven home, but side door wont open from outside or inside, any suggestions please.

Nothing apparently stuck in door.

Door shows as 'open' on ignition screen, but looks closed from outside.

Have you caught the child lock switch on the drivers door which locks it we did that.

 

[Themadwife]

Is your door on the coast a manual door?
Having just taken apart my side door for another reason (Could not use the inside handle to close the door when latched in the fully open position).
I can confirm that the outside handle and the inside handle are separate units with a shared connection block in the door to open the door lock at the rear.
It is most unlikely that they have both failed at the same time.
I think that something became jammed in the rear latch when you shut the door and this is why neither outside or inside handles will release the latch at the rear of the door to allow it to move out and slide rear wards.
When you activate the central locking from the driver side button can you hear the lock activate in the side door (should be a solid clunk)
If not this would confirm the latch is jammed.
I would suggest someone on the outside pulling the handle and someone on the inside pushing outwards at the rear seat end of the door to free the latch.

No luck

 

[Themadwife]

Have you caught the child lock switch on the drivers door which locks it we did that.

Nope

 

[Resfeber]

No luck

So you are left with only 2 options.
You need to power off the vehicle electric for the soft close.
This will be the following fuse F18



(see https://www.startmycar.com/volkswagen/california/info/fusebox/2022#anchorfusebox2

Then try the push pull suggested again.
If this doesn’t work then you may have a failed latch and this will need dealer visit to resolve

 

[Themadwife]

Update - thanks for responses.

It wasn’t a soft close- it’s a Coast.

Took to garage. Took them 90 mins to take off panel inside & to release twig from catch. They say it’s a common occurrence - especially with tradesmen getting plastic caught in the door catch. Hubby will be more careful in future ! Came out of his pocket money !

 

[Resfeber]

Update - thanks for responses.

It wasn’t a soft close- it’s a Coast.

Took to garage. Took them 90 mins to take off panel inside & to release twig from catch. They say it’s a common occurrence - especially with tradesmen getting plastic caught in the door catch. Hubby will be more careful in future ! Came out of his pocket money !

Thanks for the update.
So the cause was correct
“I think that something became jammed in the rear latch when you shut the door and this is why neither outside or inside handles will release the latch at the rear of the door to allow it to move out and slide rear wards.”
Would love to know how they freed the door card with the door closed, as there is precious little room to get a tool into the gap and pry the trim clips apart.
Think 90 mins was a good effort by the dealer..