2000 vw jetta. driver's side door lock switch will unlock door, but not lock it. passenger side locks all doors properly

remove door panel to inspect linkage in extreme cold and age the clips/connectors break or pop off also if greased can thicken like a putty and also not allow proper working

The locks on your vehicle are electronically controlled by the BCM - body control module . The driver an passenger door switche's are input's to the BCM . Do you know anything about automotive electronic's ? anti theft alarm remote, could this be part of the problem , No it's just a key less entry remote , nothing to do with the anti-theft .
Door Lock System Components
The Power Door Lock System consists of the following components:
• Body control module (BCM)
• Driver door lock switch
• Front passenger door lock switch
• Door lock actuators in each of the doors
• IBCM (PWR) 15-amp fuse

Door Lock System Controls
The Power Door Lock System is controlled by the body control module (BCM) and can be activated by any one of the following:
• A door lock switch Lock or Unlock actuation
• A keyless entry transmitter actuation
• An automatic door lock actuation
• An automatic door unlock actuation
• A last door closed locking (LDCL) actuation

Driver and Passenger Door Unlock Operation w/o Keyless Entry
When the body control module (BCM) detects a transition of either of the door lock switches to the Unlock position, it switches the door lock actuator unlock control circuits to voltage. Since the door lock actuator lock control circuit is at ground potential within the BCM, the driver passenger door lock actuators transition to the Unlock position.

Your best bet , take your vehicle to a qualified repair shop ! Need special tool to diagnose .

Power Door Locks Inoperative

Install a scan tool.
Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
With a scan tool, observe the door lock switch parameter in the Doors data list.
Does the scan tool display Idle?
YES - Go to Step 4
NO - Go to Step 8
4
Activate the driver door lock switch to the LOCK and UNLOCK positions.
Does the scan tool display Idle?
YES - Go to Step 9
NO - Go to Step 5
5
Activate the front passenger door lock switch to the LOCK and UNLOCK positions.
Does the scan tool display Idle?
YES - Go to Step 9
NO - Go to Step 6
6
With a scan tool, observe the driver door lock actuator command and the passenger door lock actuator command parameters in the Doors data list.
Activate a door lock switch to the LOCK and UNLOCK positions.

You still have a wiring issue, you will need to track it down.

You need to the BCM (body control module) scanned, it may be defective.

Do the power windows work ? DDM - driver door module fuse 15 amp - location is the instrument panel fuse box , plus LT DR circuit breaker 25 amp. Circuit breakers rarely go bad . The power locks are controlled by electronic's .The passenger side has another power supply ,that's why they still work .
Door Lock System Components
The power door lock system consists of the following components:
• The driver door switch (DDS)
• The passenger door switch (PDS)
• The body control module (BCM)
• The driver information center (DIC)
• The rear door lock/unlock relay (LBEC)
• The reversible door lock actuators in each of the doors and liftgate

The front power door lock switches are integral components of the driver door module (DDS) and passenger door module (PDS). The switches are 2 position normally open rocker switches. When placed in either the lock or unlock positions, the switches provide a direct input to the DDS or PDS. The DDS or PDS monitors these inputs and sends a LAN message indicating a change in the switch's respective position. Modules which activate the power door lock motors receive the LAN message and activate the motor in the appropriate direction to lock or unlock the vehicle's doors and liftgate. The rear door lock switch provides a lock and unlock signal to the body control module (BCM). The BCM upon receipt of a lock or unlock signal will control the rear door lock/unlock relay and also send a LAN message to the DDS and PDS to perform the appropriate function.
The modules which activate the power lock motors are:
• The DDS (driver door lock actuator)
• The PDS (passenger front door lock actuator)
• The BCM (both rear door lock actuators and cargo door/liftgate)
The DDS and PDS are directly connected to the respective door lock actuator through the door lock motor lock and unlock circuits. Once a door lock or unlock request has been received, the module will supply battery voltage to one side of the actuator and ground the other causing the doors to lock or unlock.
The rear passenger and endgate doors are controlled by the BCM through the rear door lock/unlock relay which is incorporated onto the printed circuit board in the LH BEC. The BCM controls the unlock relay by providing ground to energize the coil and controls the lock relay by providing battery voltage to energize the relay coil. The energized the relay and allows voltage to be applied to either the door lock motor lock or unlock circuits. Since the other side of the door lock actuator is connected to the normally closed contacts of the opposing relay to ground, the doors lock or unlock.

It's possible you have broken wire or wires inside the flex boot from the body of the vehicle to the driver's door . This happens a lot .
Fuse Block - I/P instrument panel
Left of the I/P behind the side trim panel

This is what I have for the Golf 2001:

' ITEM ' WIRE COLOR 'POL' WIRE LOCATION '
' 12V 'red '+ 'ignition harness '
' STARTER 'red/gray '+ 'ignition harness '
' IGNITION 'black '+ 'ignition harness '
' ACCESSORY 'black/red '+ 'ignition harness '
' POWER LOCK 'yellow/blue '- 'drivers door module *1 '
' POWER UNLOCK 'green/red *2 '- 'drivers door module *1 '
' LOCK MOTOR 'purple/yellow ' 'drivers door module *1 '
' UNLOCK MOTOR 'blue/yellow ' 'drivers door module *1 '
' DISARM DEFEAT 'pur/yel or blu/yel ' 'passengers door module *3 '
' PARKING LIGHTS + 'gry/red & gry/blk ' 'drivers kick panel '
' HEADLIGHTS 'yellow/red '+ 'headlight switch '
' DOOR TRIGGER 'blue/gray *4 '- 'comfort module *5 '
' DOME SUPERVISION 'blue/gray '- 'comfort module *5 '
' TRUNK/HATCH PIN 'brn/blk or brn/blu '- 'hatch light '
' HOOD PIN 'brown/red '- 'comfort module *5 '
'TRNK/HTCH RELEASE 'brown/black '- 'comfort module *5 '
' FCTRY ALARM ARM 'arms w/ lock ' ' '
' FCTRY ALRM DISARM 'disarms w/ unlock ' ' '
' TACHOMETER 'green/stripe ' 'ignition coil '
' SPEED SENSE ' ' ' '
' BRAKE WIRE 'red/black '+ 'drivers kick panel '
' HORN TRIGGER 'black/yellow '+ 'comfort module *5 '
' WIPERS 'grn/yel and green '+ 'wiper motor

*1 The drivers door module is located in the drivers door.
*2 A double pulse will unlock all doors and disarm the factory alarm.
*3 The passengers door module is located in the passengers door.
*4 This wire will read the dome light delay. The avoid the dome light delay, use the separate door trigger wires and diode isolate each one. They are brown/white and are all located in their own door at their own door module.
*5 The comfort module is the main control module located under the drivers side of the dash.

Use this diagram for the door trigger isolation: motorsport.com/images/install_notes/149.jpg

Use DIAGRAM A.


Hope this helps.

If this happen to others check with VW to is if there is a recall on it. You can also check on the Web to see if there is a recall on it. If there is VW will fix it free.

try using the remote unlock - then press the remote lock. This works on my 2000 jetta tdi. VW dealership told me $450 job to change door latch and $45 to figure out if it is the latch or the NEW key they programmed a few months ago. By the way - is yours a NEW Key?

One thing... If your last 3 doors works fine it's mean that problem is only in your drivers side. In VW like nickalxjoe wrote is air pump. So there might be an air leaking which you can hear. So if you can hear from where air running out try to fix this first.

If remote locks and unlocks driver door but does not unlock passenger doors,then follow the advice above:
Get in the car using the key to unlock the doors. From the passenger side lock and unlock your doors using the button on the passenger door. Get out and the remote should now unlock all the doors with 2 presses.
Worked perfectly for me after several other suggestions (and dealer) failed.