2004 passat door fob led lights up but will not open/lock doors

Open the key fob,behind the plastic pad put smalls aluminum foil
in between the pad and the circuit board of the key fob put separate in each hole close the fob and try

It isn't a key problem, but it's most likely to be a door actuator (motor) issue, if indeed it is an issue.
Many cars these days are fitted with a two stage lock program. This means that the first time the key activates the 'open' command then only the driver's door opens. You have to press the key fob twice to have all the doors open. This is a security feature to prevent potential criminals from breaking in other doors and snatching valuables when you activate the locks. So now the driver has control over one door or all doors, depending on their requirement. On these types of modern systems there is often a method of setting the program to open one then all with the single key press, or all doors at the same time with one key press.
Anyway, just try one press and see if it opens the driver door only and then try two presses to see if it opens the other doors. If it works this way, then it is supposed to work this way.

I found out what to do, there is a plastic covering on the door handle. Click that off and the use the key in the key fob to unlock the door. You can lock & unlock it.

I have this on a Passat 1998 model and it's frustrating, im at the point where all 4 doors wont unlock and the 2 front ones work with the key but need to be closed with the key again.The boot opens and closes with the remote.I removed and cleaned all four door barrels when they opened intermitently and under the passenger side footwell is the ecu for the windows&alarm which i removed and cleaned as well as soldered 2 dry joints.If i activate the fob i hear the relay in the ecu click and double click to lock and the boot lock works which indicates the electrics are ok.Doing a google there are 1000sssds of queries with passat/vw door lock problems and the main cause is dry solder joints in the door lock mechanisms in the door.I found out from the main dealer when replacing my bootlock(the old one was damaged in a theft attempt) that a new modified part was available and the same for door locks????leading me to believe this is a widespread problem.The only thing is to remove the door parts and inspect the catch and circut board for dry joints.This link may help you. http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1542461 copy and paste this into your browser or google the website if you dont know how.

hit the unlock button twice. most fobs are programmed so you hit it once, drivers unlocks, and again for all the rest.

My 1998 passat done the same, try remove the drivers side window/childlock control on the armrest and clean the multipoint switch as that got my drivers side door opening/closing on the fob as well as the passenger rear door unlocking and working again as it was deadbolted and would not open inside or out.

You have the wrong KEY if it won't turn any locks.
You can use the KEY fob from another Passat.
The one you have was most likey not the original
and the car was reprogrammed to except that FOB.

The Fuse panel Is inside the DRIVES side.
Open the Driver door. Look at the side of the DAShboard.
THat Giant "B" Shapped plastic cover pops off.

Check the fuses...IF any are broken,black or no good.
REplace them

Hope this helps

Sketchlab.com
MugShot Collection.

Do you have a key fob? Unlock the car with that and you should be OK. My sons Elantra is the same way, you can only get in with the fob. I guess the car thinks it's being stolen otherwise. If you don't have a fob, I'm no help

if your unlocking the doors with a key and the engine is starting it wont have a key fob,if your opening the doors with the key and the alarms going off and it wont start then it will have a key fob

The driver's side door lock button is designed not to lock from the inside unless the handle is pulled, or the power switch is used. This serves as a reminder to not lock your keys inside.

If you are inside, and push down on the button (not the switch) hard enough to lock it, you've probably damaged it.