1. Unscrew knob.
2. Grip in clamp at the flat area (shaped like a bolt/nut)
3. Mark off 1.5" on a 5/32" Drill bit (so that you know where to stop)
4. Drill the core out slowly making sure not to go too deep.
5. Mark 1" from the bottom of the "bumpy area" on the lock knob.
6. Cut off at 1" mark using a mounted jig saw, hand saw or other safe means.
7. Sand rough edges
8. Install and enjoy.

 

Pics to follow........can someone host for me?

 

I'd be concerned that when you drill into the bit, there would be no creation of threads- and therefore, when you pull on the lock, it might slip.

Or I might be completely off base. Im glad to hear someone has done it! I cant wait to see the pics.

J.

 

I don't get it. What does this mod do? Make your door lock tabs flush with the door panel when locked?

 

Thats exactly what it does.........sorry I guess I just assumed people would understand. Doh

Someone please host the pics PM me!!

 

 

Better / bigger pic.........

 

Good job Lurch! I was waiting for someone to do that.
We should have a lock stub shortening meet at your place. BYOB j/k

I'll give it a go and see if I can do it...let's hope I don't f*** it up :p

btw, check your hotmail account.

 

Sweet job Lurch! Thanks for the info and pics. I'm probably going to try this soon (probably this weekend). BTW, for those without the aero kit, have you thought about removing the front mud guards? I read an article on vtec.net and they stated that the mud guards scratch the paint and suggested removing them asap to avoid further damage to the paint. I've taken them off today (after a month and a half of owning it) and already noticed scratches in my paint.

 

Sweet mod.

 

hey peel.....thanks

 

BTW you can p/u knobs from the dealer for $3.80/pc so you don't have to mess up the original ones.

 

i see the pics... but i don't know what was done, can somebody explain?

 

The knob now comes flush with the door instead of sticking up 5/8" and jabbing your tricep.

 

Do you modify only the driver's door, both front doors, or all doors?

If you mod the back doors, your rear passengers can't unlock them from the inside...

 

Just the front doors....the back door locks are far enough back the it does'nt bug anyone

 

Just did my driver's side tonight. SWEET!!! Lovin' the ride now!

 

How did you find the mod? easy? medium? difficult?

congrats

 

Very easy. Took me all of 15 minutes to do the driver's side. After that, it took me about 5 minutes to do the passenger's side. I agree with you that the rear door locks don't need to be "fixed".

 

Glad to hear that

I took me 1 1/2 hours and one messed up knob to do mine.....measure 10 times cut once

 

Hey lurch this is great stuff. I'm a littel confused by your instructions though. All the drilling and cutting and sanding, is that all done to the actual knob you pull out...or to the hole in the door??? If someone wants to post pics of the process, thjat would be awesome

By the way peel. about the mudguards. I took mine off as well and luckily there was not permanent damage yet. I am going to buy that protective film, and stick that on under the flaps just like Chad ssuggested.

 

The pull-up tab is the piece that you perform the surgery on.

I unscrewed the driver's side tab last night to check it out myself. When I have time I might do this.

By the way, don't you find it odd that there are door-lock tabs on the front doors at all? I mean, the driver's door has the lock/unlock button, and the passenger door has a similar switch by the door handle. Why are tabs also needed?

 

I believe the tabs are needed as they are mechanical links to the actual door locking mechanism. In the event that the electrical units lock switches fail, you can still unlock the door with the pull tabs.

So, by doing this surgery, you will not be able to unlock the door if there is an electrical malfunction of the switches.

 

Very good point. That might make for a dangerous situation.

 

wouldn;t getta have the same problem? In that once in a life time situation crawl your lazy ass in the back seat

 

getta? Whats that?

Sometimes the back seats might not be an option. Its unlikely..but its possible that you could be put in a situation where you need to get out of the car and can only use the front doors.

 

sux to be u, fold down the back seats and see if there is a manual release in there for the trunk. be inventive. Just do the mod to the drivers door as you paid for the car and it is only your comfort you should care about. Then you get to put your arm out the window and u can use the passenger door, unless the circumstance is blocking all 3 doors adn just not the drivers

you know, the VW Getta

he he, I meant Jetta

 

When your back end is smashed, and your car is on fire..i'd like to see how "inventive" you will be. And I dont think comfort should come befor saftey in general.

But I am not saying dont do the mod...just that its something you need to be aware of thats all. (I may do it as well).

 

General safety my ass, U'r ideas of what COULD happen are generally retarded. A number of cars have recessed lock, which oulw not be allowed by the covernment if unsafe. What if when you got hit the locks got unhinged. Happened to my friends Saab. You can pull the lock up and down all you want, but the door isn't unlocking. Why don't you get rid of you car, go buy a Wrangler, take the doors ofd, and stop being an idiot. I could come up w/ a million scenarios that would never happen to make anything look unsafe.

Larch, where the hell are you? Get in on this one.

 

... and it's probably something to keep in mind when it comes time to sell your car. You'd need to restore it to original condition or at least let the buyer know about the comfort > safety trade-off you made.

 

The difference there, which we've discussed before, is that a pull of the door handle will unlock the door (in the Jetta, for instance). In the TSX, you have to pull on the tab. If you can't pull on the tab, it increases the likelihood you'll be locked in the car. Not a one-in-a-million trivial scenario at all.

 

moreace , you are by far the biggest idiot on the site. Either you are 12 years old, or you are an uneducated adult with can barely speak english.

I never said it was a BIG safety risk...just something to keep in mind. Some scenarios are unlikely...but possible and some people might be bothered by the fact that without power they cannot get out of their car. I never even said I was bothered by this..but you jump in and say i'm and idiot and my ideas are retarded. Grow up, or go back to school.

 

From the picture, it looks like there'sjust enough of the knob to pull up with your fingertips or a key or something in a pinch.

 

I am not 12 (not even close)
I am VERY educated
I speak fine, just type too fast and don't proof read (don't care)

Seems like you were making it a huge deal. My car is 9 years old and has never been w/o power. It just seems like you are using scare tactics towards people who are considering the mod. I don't think it is an issue at all. It might be somethign to keep in mind, but you are trying to drill it in like anyone who does it is going to die and their car will catch on fire. It was not an objective overview of the situation in my eyes. Was ehavily weighted only towards and event that seemed extremely unlikely to occur

 

Well I dont think I was giving scare tactics at all. I just think people should be aware of POSSIBLE risks. I specifically said that I am not saying dont do the mod, and I may even do it myself. The fact that you can't unlock the door without power is something people need to be aware of, and then they can make up their own minds about doing it.

And regardless of what my opinion is, dont call me an idiot.

 

stop fighting you guys

 

This whole discussion took on an entirely different personality!

Actually, I didn't realize that other than the lock tabs there is no other way to unlock the doors mechanically from the inside. So, theoretically, if you have the child-safety switch engaged on both rear doors, you lock the car and somehow you let the battery die, with this mod, you can't get out! well, except for possibly climbing through the trunk...

 

If you guys are concerned about lock malfunction cut 1.125" from the grip and leave yourself some area to grab.

 

Or just don't do the passenger side
what do you think IDIOT (fdl)?

:P

 

Be careful not to attempt this mod while driving

Not only is it a safety hazard but your lock may fall into the door

The only idiot around here is me......