Help Needed With Door To 'a' Pillar Cable Connector

[Rockabill]

Hi,

 

I have a 04 1.9TDi Galaxy and followed the excellent FAQ #43 (Vanbursta) and #31 (NIKpv) on dismantling and repairing a broken wire in the door to 'A' Pillar Gaiter on the drivers side. The help/advice I need is with the re assembly of the plug into the 'A' Pillar socket.

I believe I get the 3 wedge shape keys on the plug to line up with those in the socket, but I can't seem to get the 3 locating pins on the side of the socket to engage with the helical slot in the castellated locking ring. I have removed the castellated locking ring from the plug. As separate parts, the castellated ring will then screw into the socket and the plug will push into the socket! I think the castellated locking ring will only fit onto the plug one way as the 3 retaining clips appear the same distance apart as do the 3 helical slots which receive the plug pins? Can someone help or have I missed something?

 

To make it a little more frustrating, half way through I had to do a run to pick up the kids. I pushed home the plug into the socket without the castellated locking ring. The plug "clicked" into the socket and now I can't get separate the plug from the socket! Does anyone know if the plug and socket lock together? Does the castellated locking ring (now not fitted) "unlock" the plug and socket when turned anticlockwise? Should I just use more force to try and pull them apart or is there another way of separating them?

 

Any advice would be much appreciated.

[daddyfixit]

i think the 3 pins also push the 2 block connectors apart as well ??

i remover fusebox lid so i could push a wooden rod onto the rear of the female socket in the a-pillar as it kept falling inside !

spray loads of lube on the locking ring as it has a rubber o-ring it passes over to keep water out---it kept jamming on that.