I would check the wiring going to the lock module for any shorts. Its possible something is grounding against metal somewhere regardless of whether the module is plugged in.

 

Will do thanks. Where is the lock module normally located?

 

Just picked up on this thread whilst searching for something else! Did you guys manage to fix your issue?

I recently had the same with my 2014 Passat Estate with my symptoms starting with the alarm intermittently sounding with the car locked. This was due to the tailgate lock intermittently flagging that it was open and hence triggering the interior lamps. My other symptoms were the RH boot LEDs (I have Xenon) were flickering/glowing even when the car was locked.

Testing the rear lock and bypassing the switch resulted in no difference to my system and so I ruled out the lock as the culprit.

Reading up on the leaking antenna issue that plagued so may passats, I searched for staining of my roof liner below the centre antenna but nothing evident.... however, I noticed a very light blue tinge where the roof lining met the D pillar top moulding...the blue was actually washer fluid from the rear screen wash hose.

After removing some of the rear trim I could see that the felt taped harness was soaking wet, tracing this down to behind the RH rear boot side panel I located the inline blue connector; the attached images show the extent of the water ingress and the potential damage this could cause.

I simply sprayed switch cleaner and a little WD40 to disperse the corrosion however this only fixes the symptoms and not the route cause; for me the route cause was a split rear wash corrugated pipe. You can fix the corrosion in the connector without fixing the split washer pipe but you cannot then use the rear washer or the issue will return!

If you investigate and have the same washer leak (my pipe had completely split) I can tell you that it is a horrible job to fix; luckily I have access to some materials which really helped.
I hope this helps some of you who are at their wits end with the tailgate lock issue!

 

Just picked up on this thread whilst searching for something else!
Did you guys manage to fix your issue?

I recently had the same with my 2014 Passat Estate with my symptoms starting with the alarm intermittently sounding with the car locked.
This was due to the tailgate lock intermittently flagging that it was open and hence triggering the interior lamps. My other symptoms were the RH boot LEDs (I have Xenon) were flickering/glowing even when the car was locked.

Testing the rear lock and bypassing the switch resulted in no difference to my system and so I ruled out the lock as the culprit.
Reading up on the leaking antenna issue that plagued so may passats, I searched for staining of my roof liner below the centre antenna but nothing evident.... however, I noticed a very light blue tinge where the roof lining met the D pillar top moulding...the blue was actually washer fluid from the rear screen wash hose.
After removing some of the rear trim I could see that the felt taped harness was soaking wet, tracing this down to behind the RH rear boot side panel I located the inline blue connector; the attached images show the extent of the water ingress and the potential damage this could cause.

I simply sprayed switch cleaner and a little WD40 to disperse the corrosion however this only fixes the symptoms and not the route cause; for me the route cause was a split rear wash corrugated pipe. You can fix the corrosion in the connector without fixing the split washer pipe but you cannot then use the rear washer or the issue will return!

If you investigate and have the same washer leak (my pipe had completely split) I can tell you that it is a horrible job to fix; luckily I have access to some materials which really helped.
I hope this helps some of you who are at their wits end with the tailgate lock issue!

View attachment 87529 View attachment 87537 View attachment 87545

Thank you so much for this post. It was exactly my problem. I followed your advice and all is well.
Regards m

 

This was exactly my issue too. I took it to a VW dealer in my home town, Aylesbury, and they wanted £1,300 to replace the wiring loom that their substandard pipework damaged! I don't think it even needed a wiring loom so I asked to see the manager and they told me he was too busy to see me. They returned my car with the trim removed and blue tissues packed into the rear pillar. I asked a technician and he told me that he wasn't allowed to reassemble my car unless his manager authorised him to do so and that the job was not finished! They literally returned my car to me in pieces!

Check out the video here:

Terrible customer service is putting it mildly.

It seems that all these estates suffer the same design fault. The pipework, in my opinion, is not fit for purpose but after their emissions scandal I think VW simply can't afford to fix yet another recall so are denying the issue exists. :-(

My car has been fine since because I simply don't use the rear washer. That proves that the wiring loom is fine too and that I didn't need a new loom after all just better pipework.

It's their loss because I used to be a big VW fan and was about to buy a Golf for my wife but ended up buying another brand entirely purely because of the way I was abandoned by VW.

I still have the car btw, but I just don't use the rear washer.

 

Great news that you fixed the issue though!

So if you fancy getting the rear wash fixed you need a scalpel, a roll of felt tape and 2ish metres of 4mm ID rubber wash hose.

If you remove the tailgate trim, carefully cut out the existing corrugated hose leaving the fir tree fixings that are taped to the tube and harness. You need to carefully cut the tape from around the roof grommet, also the same from inside the car.

I've attached a screen shot from your video to show you where the screen hose inline connector can be found. If you detach this end as well as the end on the motor you can actually reuse the connectors onto your new hose!

It took me around an hour and a half to do but I do this sort of thing at work, happy to advise if you want to take the job on!

 

Great news that you fixed the issue though!

So if you fancy getting the rear wash fixed you need a scalpel, a roll of felt tape and 2ish metres of 4mm ID rubber wash hose.
If you remove the tailgate trim, carefully cut out the existing corrugated hose leaving the fir tree fixings that are taped to the tube and harness. You need to carefully cut the tape from around the roof grommet, also the same from inside the car.
I've attached a screen shot from your video to show you where the screen hose inline connector can be found. If you detach this end as well as the end on the motor you can actually reuse the connectors onto your new hose!

It took me around an hour and a half to do but I do this sort of thing at work, happy to advise if you want to take the job on!
View attachment 87553

Thank you for this post from last year ?? I’ve had my B7 2013 Passat not long over 3 years. It’s had new aircon & water pump replaced under warranty (thank god) and until today was fine until it started with this problem you’re talking about ? I didn’t notice mould in the RH cubby hole over last few months above the wheel arch but my partner thought nothing of it!
Looks like I’ll be trying your diy job is fixing it asap.

Any tips on how to disarm the alarm with the faulty boot sensor?

Many thanks,
Jane

 

Hello
I had the exact same problem.
I removed the trim on the sides and cleaned the contacts.
I changed the hose. All is well.
Thank you for the information.

 

I had the same issue and the connector is totally corroded. The alarm was going off randomly and the boot light was flashing on/off randomly. Also well before all this the rear boot light stopped working when the boot was open, even though the bulb wasn't broken.

Any idea what the part number is for the connectors are?

I searched on google using the numbers I found but could only find one half and the other part didn't show up.

110972711a
8z0 972 701

 

Cheers for all the info lads, done this horrid job today.

New washer pipe run, slightly short on the new line so had to make a join.

 

I had the similar issue, thanks to this post I have been able to sort the problem myself - Dealer quoted for a new harness. Just the nightmare of putting trim back together. Thanks for all of the above - super helpful.

 

I think this is what is wrong with my car I got only this last month: started with the back washer not working right and now I have a damp patch in the boot on the drivers side. The boot then says it’s unlocked and the alarm keeps going off. Thought I was going mad till I saw this post.

 

I've had the same issue on my 2014 Passat. (Is there an issue with that year?!) I'm worried my connector is too far gone. Does anyone know if it's possible to order the connector (or even the name of it?) I'm guessing I'm going to have to buy a couple of wiring looms to replace this crappy thing?

 

Wish I had found this thread before buying a new catch and the thing you pull to open the door as I have all of the above problems with my 2012 Passat Estate and spent a couple of hours yesterday pulling bits of trim off and fitting the new parts to then find I still have the problems. Found that the washer hose at the top in that tube thing was snapped off and everything soaked in screen wash. 4mm hose is on order and will have a play on my next day off. Question for those who might know, does that blue connecter also power the 3rd brake light as that packed up just after I bought the car and the dealer fitted a new one but could NOT get it to work after 4 days of trying so I picked the car up and have put up with the yellow warning light on the dash ever since.

 

I have faced exactly the same problem. The fluid destroyed every thing unfortunately the rear camera control unit which located in the lower part of the place thatthe blue socket exist. So I have lost my camera as well because of that. My first priority is to make the connection again with the blue socket. If any one has any idea where can I find the new one (blue socket) and if you have a map of the socket I mean the formation of wires inside the socket I would appreciate it.

 

Hi - interesting reading. I have a passat alltrack 2013, and my car has the same problems. I have replaced the lock mechanism once because i couldnt open it. Fixed it then but now the car signals open and keeps the interior lights on which caused my battery to fail.
I didnt see anything as i removed the interior panel on the rear hatch but maybe i should try to test the side panels..
Can this cause problems with my front lights as well? The xenon lights doesnt work but it flickers sometimes - and i dont want to replace the complete front light assembly. Coult electric failure in the rear cause problems in the front?? Anyone who had this??