Merlin Garage Door Remote Mod - B6 Passat R36

[snerlo]

Got around to hooking up the LED light within the switch today. In the process, I also found out that my cigarette lighter light globe was also not working. Well, after pulling the unit out and eventually working out how to get the light out (after very slightly destroying the holder), I found that the bulb had blown. Anyhow, a ring to supercheap auto and blow me down with a feather, they have the exact bulbs that I need in a two pack. Whacked the new bulb in, and way she went. I also decided to splice in the button LED to the light for the cigarette lighter. All works great and looks OEM. The colour match is absolutely perfect!! Really happy. Now I have to start researching LED interior globes although this isn't an urgent thing. Don't wanna spend a lot on them.
My advice to anyone thinking about doing the garage remote mod, just do it. It is unreal and makes it so easy and cool, to open the garage door. I love this mod. Probably the best mod I have done.

[kleung]

My advice to anyone thinking about doing the garage remote mod, just do it. It is unreal and makes it so easy and cool, to open the garage door. I love this mod. Probably the best mod I have done.

Well, you've inspired me. I dug out my old 'dead' keyfob and, with some help from a friend managed to take it apart. Turns out it still works, but the carbon pads on the back of the green rubber part had basically liquefied and munged up the contact pads on the circuitboard. Cleaned it up, and it tests ok when I short the pad with probes.

With those preliminaries out of the way, I ordered the button a few days ago, so I'll have a go at this myself when it turns up.

In terms of the soldering of the wires, I think I might have found an easier way. If you follow the tracks on the circuit board, they go to circular pads with holes in the middle. I suspect that this will be a much easier location for soldering the wires, and it's likely to be a bit more robust as a result. I'll try and get some photos when I get around to doing mine.

By the way, would you by any chance have the part number for the crimped pins from Jaycar? Thanks.

[snerlo]

Yeah, i know the points you are talking about mate. Thought about it but just ended up going down the route i show you here. With regards to the connectors, i dont think they have a part number on them. They are simply little connectors attached to each other via a base strip of the same alloy that they are made out of. You simply bend them off in a similar way you break off a piece if you were making a plastic model using those one piece frames that have all the parts linked together. Bad description i know, but if you take the button in with you and tell them that you need some crimped connectors for it, they will help you out. I think the pack cost only $2.50 or there abouts. They were just in a little plastic bag. I think there was about 20 in a pack. You shouldn't have any problems. Let me know if you need any other advice mate.

[b j p]

Nice work! I'll add this one to my "to do" list if I can ever find the right R36!

[snerlo]

You'll get there mate. They are worth the wait. There are quite a few on carsales at the moment though. I only got mine on chrissy eve last year. There's plenty of people on here that can offer advice.

[Cossor]

Gee Guys
The never ending search for perfection.
I will trade present Passat in about two-three years time.
In the meantime, have simply stuck the remote to below the bottom RH button on
the gear shift facia. decidedly NOT cool.

Re porting Merlin button to another location, unlike B&D, no programming switches
(Very simply, no room!)
However, contact Merlin for possible solution.
In my case, had Merlin installed as replacement for B&D, So much much better

[Passat R36]

Received the button today. Ordered on 10 June.

The button does not seem brand new, hope it works, will test tonight and hopeful I can finish the install today.

[snerlo]

good stuff mate. Let us know how you go

[Passat R36]

Done! Best Mod for $20!

Tips:
1, To remove the blank button/cover, just push it upwards.

2, Left up the gear panel fisrt then the buttons panel. will be easier to grab.

3, I got power for the LED in the Sunshade Button from parking assist button. Unstrip the connector cover, insect two wires in socket 3 and 6, then put it back and cable tied. Then use these two wires to connect the 3 and 6 pins in the Sunshade Button respectively. I used parking assist button simply because the cable of the tyre pressure button is not long enough.

4, I recycled some wires from an old desktop's motherboard. The wires have suitable clips on the ends to connect Sunshade Button pins tightly. I used tiny rubber tube to cover the clips for the insulation.

5, The hardest part for me was the soldering wires to the garage door remote as that's the first time for me. Be careful.


Original parking assist connector



Two wires insected and cable tied ready to go back


How it looks! Great!

[snerlo]

Looks good mate. Well done. I think it is the best mod that I've done too, very closely followed by the RVC install
Ps. Funny how they changed the position of the parking sensors button between years!! Very strange

[Passat R36]

yes mate, good find! thanks!
my next mod is the dead pedal aluminum cover from ebay ($30 one), will arrive this week hopefully, decided to stick on using 3M double sided tape, will see how it goes.

[snerlo]

Cool. Remember, pictures or it didnt happen!

[kleung]

Ps. Funny how they changed the position of the parking sensors button between years!! Very strange

The two possibilities I can think of are new park assist electronics as part of the facelift, or new options needing buttons that necessitated a new button layout.

OPS wasn't available with the red-MFD cars, was it?

Passat R36, thanks for the photos - one question though - how did you fix the wires into the park assist connector block? Ie aside from jamming the wires into the connector block and cable tying the wires in place, did you do anything to attach the wires to the existing contacts inside the connector block?

And regarding the recycled motherboard wires - are they the ones that connect the front panel buttons/LEDs to the motherboard?

[Passat R36]

Passat R36, thanks for the photos - one question though - how did you fix the wires into the park assist connector block? Ie aside from jamming the wires into the connector block and cable tying the wires in place, did you do anything to attach the wires to the existing contacts inside the connector block?

And regarding the recycled motherboard wires - are they the ones that connect the front panel buttons/LEDs to the motherboard?

Hi kleung, Nothing else done on that part. I just removed 6-7mm plastic coat on the wire, jammed in, tested them then cable tied tightly so the wires wont slip off. You can add another cable tie to tie the wires to the existing loom for extra safety.

The wires I used were from the PC power supply to the motherboard, they have crimped pins on the ends, some of the pins match the pins in the Sunshade Button. Those are tough wires for this mod.

[rraudi]

reviving an old thread!!! lookin into doing the garage door mod but im having trouble finding the button. anyone have any ideas on where i'd be able to grab one?

i've done a search online and have been tot he links provided but doesnt seem that stock them anymore, unless i've got to email them and specifically mention i want one made for a 2009 passat R36?

thanks