This is a short review of an aftermarket fix for a common problem of the power trunk release latch on the VW Jetta MKIV. A plastic hinge pin can’t take the t…
Sometimes Aftermarket is Better — VW Jetta trunk latch repair
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Aftermarket, Better, Jetta, Latch, repair, sometimes, Trunk
- Categories: Volkswagen
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As I recall, some of these models are vacuum actuated. You will be able to identify that when you take the inner door panel off. If it is vacuum actuated, a small crack in the vacuum tubing can do the same thing. Of course also check fuses, but if the other components of the system work it’s not likely to be that. Also note that you may not hear the noise unless you put your ear right on the door when somebody else presses the button.
Oh, yes, but the first part of the repair is similar. Tear it down and have a look.
mine doesnt make any noise
could it be electrical ?
You make an excellent point about how much you benefit from buying a common vehicle. Thanks for your input.
I had a similar issue with my 2003 Civic’s fuel door release. After many hundreds of cycles a weak cable attachment point ruptured beneath the seat. With no obvious way to fuel up I was in a bind! Lo and behold a smart guy had engineered a superior replacement solution. Popular cars aren’t immune to dummy design problem but they are the easiest to find help with. Cheers.
I’ve got a Golf that seems to have the same problem with it’s rear hatch button/latch. It does seem to be one of the good many chronic flaws in VW model design. Another is the door handles on Mark II models. I’ve replaced mine 3 times so far and see lots of sellers of Chinese made door handles for these cars.
Thank you, Chris. Nice to meet you.
On behalf of everyone who watches this video and looks at the links I want to say thanks…… My solenoid has just gone on my 2003 Bora (AKA Jetta) : ( this could have been designed so much better and reduced wasted money and time.
Thanks for your input, and nice to meet you.
Very true about aftermarket. Time has told nicely for my trunk fix. Had my fix in place on my 01′ 2.0 since 2009 haven’t had a problem with it yet, knock on plastic.
I’m told plastic is a petroleum byproduct, and lighter plastic is one way to better gas mileage. But with plastic parts becoming brittle with age, and no guarantee of long term supply, it puts those of us who like to drive old vehicles into a real bind….
plastic intakes,plastic mushroom clips,plastic coolant parts,plastic everywhere and they make us think there is no more petrol for us to use ?
so why to produce so much plastic ?
cash for clunckers,inthe US,the same here,just to sell cars and parts.
it’s more economical and less harmful for the environment to use a gas guzzler 8 or 10 more years than to produce a brand new car wich uses a lot more of energy and natural ressources.
The size of the front lights ? why so big ? why plastic ? to allow you to burst it in a parking lot or in an accident.
they are expensive too, while very cheap to produce, and it’s forbiden to go on the road without them in bad shape or broken….so you pay it new.
why so little windows on the cars nowadays while before it was considered as bad because of the lack of visibility ?
because of the weight (actual cars are very heavy),and the price of it…
Programmed obsolescence + the fact that cars are not built to last as long as before (on the market)
Peoples change their car more often,so spare parts must be sold quick because money is made on parts,not on brand new cars where the manufacturer margin is very tight.
Only bmw have a superior margin on sold vehicles.
A steel front fender is about 10 euros to produce and you pay that around 200 at the dealer.
Imagine a plastic one….they break easily like the bumpers ……
Thanks.
Good info, Spelunkerd.
Great video and your haircut looks great! As for dealerships- they are quasi-puppets of the factory/manufacturer. The said factory manufacturer is up to their eyeballs in numbers- many of them in the red. Tough decisions have to be made and often times in haste. They’re saving grace is the sinking tide they are all riding. Without substitute brands of superior quality at set prices consumers continue to make preprogrammed decisions. Humans are creatures of habit. Hyundai is capitalizing.
I hear what you’re saying. A generation ago, all wreckers were of the ‘pick a part’ design, where you would bring a few tools and look through the huge yard and find what you want. Now the typical yard is much smaller, and parts with any value go onto quick internet auction, raising prices.
As a long time VW owner, I have noticed that although very reliable it always seems to be little things that fail and when you go to a breakers yard the parts are always missing because try are common faults. You then have to end up buying from the dealers and its fifty here and fourth there but it all adds up! Overall I love them though but I may chance an Audi next time I’m gonna change !
I feel the same way you do, especially for older vehicles when new replacement parts become unavailable. With the resale price of metal and the cost of land, most wrecking yards just trash cars, rather than keeping them for parts they might sell later.
I have noticed many parts are only just strong enough when new and when the rest of the mechanism is free moving (brand new), also when the grease hasnt got stiffer.
I would rather have a cast metal part with more material on it, slightly over done so when mechanisms get a bit old it does not snap like a twig.
Plastic clips annoy me the most, where screws or just 10mm bolts would do the job so much better.
Sorry i went into moan mode there 🙂
Hope your repair lasts 🙂
I do not have a problem with it being complex but only when it is really necessary. At least in this particular case, I see no reason for so many levers, rods, cables, actuators, motors, brackets, pulleys etc for the trunk opener!
Now that you mention it, some of their mechanical design features seem very complex. Thanks for your input.
I just don’t get VWs. The whole mechanism seems to be overly complicated for no reason at all. I have seen typical japanese trunk opener and it does not have bunch of cables and rods. Is there a rationale for VW way of doing things? They can can simplify the design, save the money and make it more reliable but then it just won’t be a VW, right??