[Biturbos4] Drivers door catches

[Mark R]

I've never seen this before.  Cleaning and lubricating the linkage, handle,
and door seal would be my starting point.  Also, check striker pin
alignment.  Has the car ever been in an accident?  Does the door align well
with the door frame and rear door?  The striker pin alignment can be
manipulated (externally, with a ratchet and a torx socket), and it sounds to
me the likely solution.  From memory, it's 3 torx-head bolts which need
loosened (not removed).

If that doesn't work, it's pulling the door panel and inspecting the
linkage.  I'd go to the dealer, or (better yet) a good independent.  Body
shops are notorious for taking shortcuts, but if you know a good one, that's
certainly another route.

Clean and lubricate with a product such as PB Blaster, Boesheild,
WD-40 etc.  If that works, some teflon lubricating spray every few months
would be the way to go.

Door seals can be cleaned with clean rags and soapy water (or a mild
cleaner).  Lubricate with a product designed for the purpose, glycerine
(from the pharmacy), or any other rubber lubricant.  Some use WD-40, but
that wouldn't be my first choice.

Sorry I didn't realize the issue was from the outside.

Hope I've helped,
Mark Rosenkrantz

On Fri, May 2, 2008 at 1:25 PM, Long, Scott G A1C USAF AFMC 88 SFS/S4W <
Scott.Long2 at wpafb.af.mil> wrote:

> 9 times out of 10 I have to pull it twice to open from outside.  Every
> once in a while it opens first pull.
>
> It was fine during winter, but now that its 70's it has started.
>
> I think it's a linkage issue though because it always opens fine from
> inside first pull.
>
> I assume the outside handle has a sepreate linkage to the latch than the
> inside handle does.  I am wondering if I should take it to a body shop
> and have them replace the linkage.  Or if Audi dealer would be a better
> option?  Any chance there was a recall for this issue?
>
>
> Scott G. Long
>
> -----Original Message-----
>  From: biturbos4-bounces at diablo.audifans.com
> [mailto:biturbos4-bounces at diablo.audifans.com] On Behalf Of Aurangzeb M.
> Agha
> Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 12:26 PM
> To: Bi-Turbo Audi S4 Audi Fan Group
> Subject: Re: [Biturbos4] Drivers door catches
>
> Hi Scott --
>
> I'm having the exact same problem.  I notice this happens the most when
> the weather starts to warm up.  I saw it first as last summer was
> starting, but as it cooled down, it went away, only to start again a few
> weeks ago.
>
> The problem is pretty annoying, as some times it takes three or four
> "tries" to open the door from the outside--usually, finally, I can open
> it without it catching, but one time I tried so many times I had to
> finally get in from the passenger's side.
>
> I have an '01 B5.
>
>
> Best,
>
> Aurangzeb
>
> --
> Message: 6
> Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 09:54:05 -0400
> From: "Long, Scott G A1C USAF AFMC 88 SFS/S4W"
>         <Scott.Long2 at WPAFB.AF.MIL>
> Subject: Re: [Biturbos4] Drivers door catches
> To: <biturbos4 at audifans.com>
> Message-ID:
>
> <7A7F9CC06FD4524B97F41B9C957CA8A801C99680 at VFOHMLAO02.Enterprise.af
> mc.ds.af.mil>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="US-ASCII"
>
> I should have said from the outside.  From the inside it takes two
> pulls, that's normal.  But from the outside if I unlock the door and
> pull up on the handle, it opens a bit and catches the latch.  You know
> when you shut the door but it's not fully closed?  That's where it goes
> when I open it.
>
> If the car is unlocked and I'm inside, one pull on the interior handle
> opens the door fine.  It seems like the linkage for the exterior handle
> may need to be adjusted.  I'm not sure if this is a common problem for
> B5 doors, or if I'm just unlucky?
>
>
> Scott G. Long
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