How do you open door of MK VI Golf if the car's battery is dead

[moniker]

Just picked up my 103 TDI yesterday.
The manual mentions something about opening door with the key, but there is no locks at all on the outside.
So IF the battery goes completely kaput, how do you get in??

[ricksterrr]

Just picked up my 103 TDI yesterday.
The manual mentions something about opening door with the key, but there is no locks at all on the outside.
So IF the battery goes completely kaput, how do you get in??

The lock is concealed behind a plastic cap next to the driver's door handle. Pull the door handle out first, then have a look below the cap next to the handle, there should be a notch underneath the cap where you can stick your key in to pop the cap out (whilst you're pulling the handle)

EDIT: Much simpler to explain this via a video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDevaVKo5Ro

[logger]

And I reckon this configuration is a real PITA. Doesn't cater for someone who routinely takes a plain (non remote) key with them surfing. If I wanted to take a dumb key with me strapped into my wetsuit surfing I would have to flick the cover off every time I return to my car. After about 10 occasions I reckon the cover would be stuffed. Wonder if I could buy a spare one from VW, and drill a 1/2 hole in it so the keyhole is always accessible.

[moniker]

Actually, my Bora had a plain (plastic) non remote Key.
All I got with the Golf was the 2 remote keys.
Should I have got a plastic key also?

[HereGoes]

Another new fact about my car... i really should read that manual! lol

[logger]

Actually, my Bora had a plain (plastic) non remote Key.
All I got with the Golf was the 2 remote keys.
Should I have got a plastic key also?

No - I expect your Bora has an exposed key lock, so because of this they provided you with a plain (plastic) non remote Key. On the other hand, you have to pull the drivers door handle apart on a MK6 to insert a key so they deemed it not desirable to give us plain keys.

[ctan]

What to do when the Battery in the Key goes flat

My key went dead yesterday at a car park. I had been using it for a month. I rotate the keys as advised by the dealer. Still it died on me. That is when I realised that when it happens you are stuffed. There is no other way to open the car untill you get the spare key (that hopefully has charge). I called up the dealer today. I was told it cost $12 for a new battery!!! and it is not covered under warranty. Wonder what else is not covered under warranty. The car is only 5 months old. I was also told that I may have dropped the key or I had dropped it in water!!! Isn't that wonderful customer service?

[team_v]

I believe the back end of the door handle has a cover that can be popped off which allows entry via manual key turning.
(This is true for the mk3/4/5 and Tiguan models so i figure it should be the same on the mk6)

There should be a notch under it that allows the key to be inserted and the cover popped off.
(see location in the below picture - this one is broken though, the kkey barrel should still be inside the door area)

[elisiX]

wow if true, that's good to know team_v.

[Guest]

My key went dead yesterday at a car park. I had been using it for a month. I rotate the keys as advised by the dealer. Still it died on me. That is when I realised that when it happens you are stuffed. There is no other way to open the car untill you get the spare key (that hopefully has charge). I called up the dealer today. I was told it cost $12 for a new battery!!! and it is not covered under warranty. Wonder what else is not covered under warranty. The car is only 5 months old. I was also told that I may have dropped the key or I had dropped it in water!!! Isn't that wonderful customer service?

Just as already has been said pop that cover off and a key hole will be behind the cover to manually open with then key! and also just open the key up and go buy a battery from well really anywhere servo electrical store watch store??? its not a special battery and less than half the price the dealer charges

[MurphyTheElf]

Does manually opening the door lock disarm the GTI's alarm? I can't remember from the manual and I don't have the car today.

[Idle]

The battery is a CR2032 — you'll find one in almost every desktop computer and they're readily available.

If they charge you more than about $2 for it you're being ripped off — I get them on tear-off cards for cents.

Replacement method? Volkswagen Key Disassembly (a Google search will find more.)

Takes only moments after the first time.

If it went flat in 5 months there will be a reason — normal service life runs into years.

I would expect the door key to disable the alarm — it's controlled by the locking system.

[ctan]

Thanks for ALL the info. I will give that a try. It is good to know. There is no warning battery is doing dead. Could happen to anyone. I discovered something else that may be of interest. When I got the other key delivered I unlocked the car with it. I tried to start the car with the roque key hoping to get it recharged on the way home. The car would not start. The indicator lights came on inside the car but I had a message 'Key Not Found' in the instrument panel. I guess then, it may be a good idea to keep a spare battery in the car. In such a situation I can at least unlock it to get to the spare battery.

[Idle]

Hmmm — maybe we should make battery replacement an annual event?

I've dealt with them in other makes of remote and they seem to last well over five years of normal use. CR2032's will hold the CMOS in a computer motherboard (including the clock) up for several years of disuse.

The VW remote will roll the windows up and down — this is said to flatten them fairly quickly, as you have to hold the button down 'til the operation completes.

[Corey_R]

As some have noted, there is a traditional door lock on the MK6 Golf, it's just covered.
There are two great videos from Ask A VW Sales Guy on YouTube which cover this topic

Episode 7: How to replace the battery in a VW key

Episode 39: How to manually unlock your VW with a hidden key hole

As Idle pointed out, the battery is a CR2032 and costs about $2 from practically every chemist/electronics/supermarket. You also probably have several of them around the place that you just don't know about
And yes, the door key will disable the alarm. I thought it should allow the car to start too. Maybe there something wrong with the OP's key though... I mean, it's not mean to go flat in 5 months!

So there you go. Everything you needed to know about this topic in the one post