Ok, so I've been googling online about this and there are bits of information online on different models of A4 but nothing specific seems to pop up regarding how to replace door locks on B8 A4. So I decided to try it myself and after 4 times opening up the door panel, I finally got it done today! I decided to share this so anyone can replace your broken door locks on your b8 (which seems to happen quite often). It's actually simpler than it looks (and way cheaper than going to the dealer).
Problem
I got my 2010 A4 used, after driving it for couple days I noticed the front passenger door won't lock/unlock with remote nor the with the button inside. The passenger side button can still lock/unlock other doors, just not itself! I can still open the door normally from door handles. This problem will cause the lock confirmation sound (the "chip" after you lock the car with the remote) doesn't come up when locking the car and interior light doesn't go out after a long time. This is because the car consider itself not locked since one of the lock is still open. The problem would stay for couple days, disappear for some times, then come back. Recently, the problem doesn't disappear anymore. When scanning the car, VCDS gives:
02115 - Locking Unit for Central Locking
008 - Implausible Signal
Based on these problems and some googling online, I concluded there's a faulty lock module.
Disclaimer: follow this guide at your own risk, I am not responsible if you damage anything. (had to get that out of the way
)Things you need
8mm Triple Square Socket (don't use other similar sockets, you will break the bolt!! and don't ask me how I know
)T25 Screw driver
Door Trim removal tools
Door Latch (lock, part number 8J1837016B/8J1837016D)
**Be careful about which type you are replacing, they have different connectors (see picture) so the wrong type will never fit. You can follow up till step 2 to see which type you have, mine is type B.
Door Panel Clip (part number 7L6868243, for backup purposes, usually some will break when removing the door panel)
Lock bolt (in case you really need it, par number WHT003348)
My adventure inside the passenger side door panel...
1. Remove the inside door trim and door panel (there are already several instructions on this online so I'll not post detail steps here. I followed this video )
2. After removing the door panel, remove the big plastic cover, this is what you see (red arrow), slide that out so the cover just touch the blue part of the inside handle wire (as the picture shows)
3. Slide the wire connecting outside door handle out of the guide by rotating the guard (the yellow clip in red circle)
Note. in this picture, the wire is already out of the lock unit (as in blue circle) because I previously removed it, you will need to remove that yourself by bending the wire upwards to align the clip (blue arrow) with the hole, I suggest you do this after step 4 because it's a lot easier after the lock is out of the place.
Note. There might be a lock cover on the lock so you will need to remove that as well, since I don't see that in my car I can't post pictures
4. Remove the lock bolts on the side of the door(2 black bolts around the latch, this is where 8mm Triple Square socket comes in)
****Be careful! these are the only things holding the lock, hold the lock with your hand while these are coming off so you wont damage the wires.
5. After the lock is loose, carefully slide that to the opening between the window guide (a black steel bar in the picture in step 2) and the panel (the narrow side, I can never get the lock pass the window bar from behind), remove the wire for inside door handle using the same trick as 3.
6. Here's the tricky part, while the lock doesn't seem to fit, it will actually come out if you slightly apply pressure (don't over pull it, you might damage the connecting wires) and force it out of the opening, your lock should come out the same orientation as it's installed (so no need to turn the lock around inside the door frame), like the picture.
7. After the lock is out, disconnect the wires by first pushing the clip (red circle) down and pulling the connector out, again be careful, you don't want to destroy the wire at this point!
8. After that just reverse the steps and put everything back. For putting the lock back in the door frame, apply slight pressure and pull the inside door frame outward to create an opening so the lock can be pushed in, the orientation should be the same as before.
And that's it!! The lock should now lock and unlock normally (mine did! yay!
). In the end, the lock costs $244, couple bolts and clips costs less than $10 so overall about 250. As to the afternoon I spent with my car? - priceless!
Hope this helps someone out there
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