why wont my doors close..damn things

Hi advice needed please. I have a 1983 gti, had it a couple of months now. The two doors refuse to close properly on the first, second or third try. They will close but only seem to catch half way on the locks, you have to open them and really slam them shut to get them to close properly on the locks. The doors do not seem to be sagging at all, all the joints seem equal around the doors. Do i need to replace the locks and pins as im assuming that over the years the locks have weakened, or am i barking up the wrong tree. I have thought about trying to take the door seals out and try the doors without them in place, but i am not sure if this is a good idea, if you take the seal out will it have to be replaced with a new one or are they easy to take out and replace with out breaking them..advice appreciated.
Andy

Maybe try moving the striker pin out a touch. Scribe or mark with a pen where it sat, then 15mm ring spanner to loosen slightly and move out a touch. Retighten and try. Worked on my caddy a treat!

any luck with this?

i used to have the same problem with my first golf, they would only close with the windows open?! i'm guessing it was something to do with the air pressure, iirc the side blower vents blew warm air so they must have been rigged through the matrix which may have had something to do with it??

Hi

I have not had a chance to look at the car yet, working in the middle east and not home till next week.

Will post a reply when i get to look at the car.

Will hopefully be carrying out a bit of work over the next couple of weeks, thats if the wife lets me..

Andy

They won't close because VW designed the Golf to be air tight - they even advertised the fact !

Take a look at your striker pins in the door apertures, i.e. the pins that the locks pull on to.
Are the pins still covered in a plastic sleeve ? If not then that is your problem

wrap some insulation tape around the pin to compensate for the missing plastic (if its missing)

I've had some success with heat shrink tubing (available at maplin etc) on the striker pins too - IF you can get the right size!

Otherwise, new pins're still available from the dealer for about a fiver each.

or treat yourself to some news ones….

http://www.vwheritage.com/vw_spares_NCA-Door-Striker-Pin-Golf-Mk1_act_shop.product_pID_60434193_lang_EN_country_GB.htm

…when they come back in stock

Just a quick update, finally got home and been looking at the car, The plasic around the door pins have stretched and was stopping the doors from closing properly. All i need to do now is find a new set of pins with good intact plastic, why is it when ever you are looking for items they are out of stock. Any way hopefully one item on my long list of to do sorted?
Thanks for all the advice and replies.
Andy

£12 from USA

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290653563960?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

Went to the local VW dealers today, Pins no longer availiable so ordered the ones above from
e bay. Thanks for all the advise.

Now to start looking at why the oil temp buzzer keeps going off.

Andy

My gti does the same only if you give it some round a tight bend ?!?!

Adam

Update
New strikers arrived from e bay via a bloke in the States. Really quick service there, strikers fitted today and my doors now shut as they should
Andy

Does anyone think this will adjust the door up a bit? Realised now mine does not have the plastic bit round the strike pin altough they shut perfectly, but I need a slight raise in my doors by only a couple of mm and the hinge pins are ok so wondered if this might do the trick.

Dan

I wrapped some amalgamating tape around the centre of the striker, the door closes sweetly and no one would notice, probably cost less than 10p

Found some more from VW Classic Parts, Germany. I've ordered stuff from here, only takes 48Hrs to arrive - stereotypes about German efficiency anyone?!

http://www.volkswagen-classic-parts.de/shop/

Type Schließbolzen into search field for shiny new VW door pins!