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YOUR RESEARCHReplacing a 97 Boxster lock actuator with VW parts (with comparison Pics) - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
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Replace door actuators
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HI, I replaced the door actuators on my 1997 with these Front Right/Left 8 pin For Volkswagen Golf 3B1837016A and 3B1837015A.
Replacing a 97 Boxster lock actuator with VW parts (with comparison Pics) - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
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Leading evidence: 'Replace door actuators' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Repair with the door open' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Use 8 pin connector so i'm guessing this won't work
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
97 and into early 98 used an 8 pin connector so I'm guessing this won't work for the 9 pin connectors found on 98-04.
Replacing a 97 Boxster lock actuator with VW parts (with comparison Pics) - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Repair with the door open
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Replacing a 97 Boxster lock actuator with VW parts (with comparison Pics) - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Use computer
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Suggestion · Original poster
This part will work with RHD or LHD cars and is plug in and play so you don't need to use a computer to complete the repair.
Replacing a 97 Boxster lock actuator with VW parts (with comparison Pics) - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
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6 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
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MAKE SURE YOU TEST THIS REPAIR WITH THE DOOR OPEN
So I just bought my first Porsche and i'm very happy with my purchase but it didn't lock. Fuel cap would try to lock itself but no movement, noise or vibrations from the driver and passenger door locks. (double beep included free)
I had a look around on here and a few people have mentioned Audi/VW but couldn't find a specific part number so i bought a genuine right side lock actuator from Porsche and went to work. With a bit of help from my younger brother I was able to get the door panel off and get into the door and started rooting around inside.
Context:
Brother is a qualified Volkswagen mechanic
At this point I hadn't shown him the lock and when i pulled it out he said "that looks like a VW unit"
You can even see the vw stamp on the Original 1997 actuator in the below photos
After a lot of searching, I figured out that the 1998 VW Polo shares a lock actuator with the 1997 Porsche Boxster. I bought and installed the passenger door lock actuator (which would work in left hand drive countries) and now my car locks successfully
I saved myself about $100 buying the part from VW. If you want the right side door code i would call up and give them the below code and ask for the other side.
This part will work with RHD or LHD cars and is plug in and play so you don't need to use a computer to complete the repair.
VW PART #6X2837013H
(legacy #3B2837015A)
Other things you may want to replace at the same time include:
Door card/trim clip - 99950758240 (white) or 99950750540 (grey) ($1.70 each x 8 needed per door) (likely to break on a 20 year old car)
Outer door handle lock pin - 99653744502 ($8 x 1 per door)
Inner door release bowden cable 99653732003 ($15 x 1 per door)
Door film ($130 x 1 per door) This is fragile and will likely rip if you aren't careful
Bonus points if you clean the 20 years of dirt and grim around the door handle seal and on the bottom of the window at the same time
How to from
Pelican parts here
Thanks for the tip. 97 and into early 98 used an 8 pin connector so I'm guessing this won't work for the 9 pin connectors found on 98-04. Maybe the Polo evolved into a 9 pin connection too?
I don't see why there wouldnt be another part similar. Lock actuators are pretty basic and i can't see why there wouldnt be a similar VW part.
This part was also used on other (more prestigious and expensive) VW's, the polo is just the one I confirmed the year model for.
HI, I replaced the door actuators on my 1997 with these Front Right/Left 8 pin For Volkswagen Golf 3B1837016A and 3B1837015A. This model has 1 extra MICRO Switch inside compared to the original Porsche actuator, to make them function I opened them up and removed the 1 extra MICRO SWITCH. Purchased from tom auto parts on eBay for a C $80.98 / US $56.74 total shipped.
Thanks to all and have a great day