driver's door only won't unlock - help please

[the phantom]

this morning my MK4 driver's door didn't unlock on the remote, but it did with the key, twice

now it's locked, the key doesn't budge it, the interior door handle will lift the button fully up, but still it won't unlock even when you pull on the pin, which is a pain as we were planning to go away next week

is there a way to get it open?  I did the solder pins a couple of years ago and it has given no indication of trouble until this morning

I really hope that it's not a taking the door skin off job

[KARTS]

Try pulling the door handle at the same time you remote unlock. Worked on mine after being stuck for days. But time for new mechanism. Crappy timing! The joys of mk4 ownership....

[Filx]

I sold a passenger side door lock to a guy that reckoned he managed to unlock his when it failed by banging on the door by the lock as he pushed the button on the remote. The theory being that the vibration from thumping the door briefly reconnects the broken electrical connections and unlocks the door. He swore by it, but yeah I dunno - might be worth a shot though. Otherwise I suspect it will be a matter of getting to the lock from the inside which I understand is a bit of a pain when you can't open the door.

Also I've got a drivers door lock left from the wreck if that is of assistance?

[80 Vert]

^^^^^this!
I've had success with this method a few times.

[the phantom]

yup, makes sense, the impact of slamming the door probably weakens a solder joint over time, surprising thing was that it happened so abruptly

[the phantom]

One of the guys from Tristram European unlocked the door with the key.   That was the first thing I tried, but he must have just had the touch.   New lock goes in tomorrow.

[GottaMkII]

I've been searching the net for the same issue of my front passenger door, but it won't budge... I've never worriedone about it as it's my work car and I very rarely take anyone with me, so it's been locked closed for months... now I have a cracked front screen and need the door opened for the new screen to go in, but it's deadlocked and I've tried the banging theory, but it won't work...

Any other way of getting into it apart front cutting the door skin open? I can't seem to find another way... brutal yes I know