Door squeaks on the Golf III and possibly other models

To the community of car enthusiasts and all Golf III drivers suffering from door squeaks.

If you're experiencing squeaking noises in or around your doors, you should try the following before completely disassembling the door.

While driving very slowly on a bumpy road (and potholes are a rare but welcome occurrence), open the relevant door slightly to see if the squeaking disappears. If it does, you can be fairly certain that the plastic piece on the corresponding latch is worn out (even if you don't see any visible wear on the part!). The part number is 1H0-837-034-C and costs €3.31.

After buying a used Golf 3 GTI TDI, I searched for a long time to find the source of this squeaking noise. Nothing I tried to lubricate on the lock or locking mechanism worked. For 3 weeks, I've had two new locking wedges on both sides, and I'm happy about the peace .
It took me a while to consider the possibility of a shim, as I previously owned a Golf II 16V where the plastic sleeve on the locking pin was severely worn, yet it still didn't make any noise.


Greetings from the North Sea.

Andy.

Hi.

"While I don't experience any squeaking, I sometimes hear a clicking sound coming from the area of the B-pillar (alternating between the right and left sides) when there's discomfort or even a sudden acceleration from a standstill. It sounds like something is loose and hitting the metal."

Could this also be caused by the aforementioned locking wedge? And where exactly is that part located, or how do you remove it? (1997 Volkswagen Golf 3, 3-door model)

Hi,
At first, I suspected the source of the squeaking was located in the B-pillar. However, after completely disassembling that area, I couldn't find any loose or rubbing parts. In my case, it sounded like plastic squeaking, so I suspected the polypropylene blocks in the rear side panels. I could 'reproduce' the squeaking, as you described, during strong acceleration or braking. However, in my case, I can't describe it as a metallic noise. Of course, it's possible that the plastic sleeve on the locking cam in your lock has become so hardened that it's causing those noises.
The locking cam is located directly above the door contact switch and is attached to the B-pillar with two Torx screws. Replacing it is very simple. There's no need to worry that the mating plate with the threads will fall into the side panel during replacement, which could necessitate more extensive disassembly of trim pieces. It's important to carefully align the new part to avoid wind noise at higher speeds.
I would recommend that you take a test drive with another person to see if the noises are still present when the door is open.
By the way, these problems seem to only occur in two-door cars with extra features. I suspect the cause is the higher weight of the door, which is already too heavy .

Best regards, Andy.

Hi,
I'm hearing a clicking sound coming from the plastic parts above the rear door, specifically in the area where the parts overlap.

... I'll probably take a look at the door wedges soon.

My Golf 4 had the same problems with the doors (creaking noises from the B-pillar when accelerating and braking). My local VAG dealer fixed it free of charge. According to the mechanic, it was likely a serial defect of the locking pins in the Golf 4. The new ones are definitely chrome-plated and somehow look smaller than the old ones.

Best regards,
Marco