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Install - VW Remote Window Controller
Submitted by: Albert (b5glx@yahoo.com), aka Stargazer
Complete instructions to remove the VW Passat door panel are available on Alien Technology's Remote Window Controller web page. The instructions there are very thorough and there is no need to repeat them. What I have here is a companion: pictures of my own install plus some minor bumps I ran into while doing it (DoH!). The steps that I have listed here are condensed and some things are omitted. Please refer to the full instructions before attempting to remove the door panel.

The process is easy and anyone can do it. I am not mechanically inclined but I'm not afraid of fiddling around with things. My experience has always been "It's never as straightforward as it seems" and I expected a few DoH!s but it was no big deal. Everything looks great and everything works great. Keep in mind, I did this late at night so please don't laugh too hard at my mistakes.

I've got three sets of pictures. The ones you see on this page are the smallest to save time. In the medium and large pictures you'll be able to see more details plus the circles and arrows I drew to point out things.

 

**Please click on images to enlarge!!
thumb1.jpg (2403 bytes) Step 1: Remove interior cover from door pull

I've got the wood trim and there doesn't seem to be any notches for the screwdriver to pop the thing out. Even though the pictures at Vortex show removing it from the top, I figure I should try from underneath in case I make any scratches. It works!
thumb2.jpg (2495 bytes) Step 2: Remove door handle/switch panel

Yeah, the whole thing just pops off. There's about five places where it snaps in. Don't try removing the front trim--it's glued on and should stay there! In the picture I'm actually holding the trim in place.
thumb3.jpg (2509 bytes) Step 3: Remove switch panel connector and 3 screws

The connector is circled and the arrows point to where the screws are. Technically they're screwed into the door--not under the handle. I removed some other useless screws first. Arrgh.
thumb4.jpg (2317 bytes) Step 4: Remove connectors and door panel

The snaps for the panel (arrows) are on really tight--I had to pull pretty hard.

  • Blue circle: power window switch connector (previously removed)
  • Green circle: connector for light--it was a bit awkward to get out and I did it last.
  • Yellow circle: power mirror connector.
  • Brown circle: door handle latch--I just wiggled it around to get it off.
  • Red circle: alarm LED connector--It's not near the lock. I waisted a couple minutes trying to unplug the LED at the top of the door. Arrgh.
  • Violet circle: this is the door lock you have to lift the panel over.
thumb5.jpg (2676 bytes) Step 5: Position the remote window controller

The recommended position does not give you 5-6 inches of clearance on the stock wiring so it's a bit tight, but still workable. I'm thinking to myself, Hey, I'm not doin' too bad!
thumb6.jpg (2748 bytes) thumb62.jpg (2521 bytes) Step 6: Connect the wires

I've never seen these kind of connectors before. Cool...they really do look alien! Anyway, I didn't realize that there was a better way to fit these on the wires. You'll know what I mean when you see the close-up: The hole for the second wire only points in one direction, and one direction is better than the other. Connector with the Blue arrow: good. Red arrow: Bad. Well, I didn't want to risk breaking any of the connectors (even though there was an extra included) so I left it the way it was: ugly, but functional.

Note: Because of the tight fit, it was hard for me to push the green buttons down evenly. Maybe it was the pliers I was using. Anyway, I should have been more careful because when I was pushing down on one side, the other side of the button popped out and the whole thing fell apart. I couldn't get the button back on again and I had to use the spare connector. I was so worried about breaking another one after that--where can you go to get those things at 1 am?!
thumb7.jpg (2750 bytes) Step 7: Tape it up!

That's it. All taped up and ready to test. After that, putting the door back on is easy.