Tailgate Won’t Open.

[Paul240480]

Hi. Went my car earlier , unlocked with the fob, then went to the boot and the pull lever moves, but the gate will not budge.
Can hear the mechanism unlocking in the gate, but when I pull the release latch the gate remains firmly shut?
Tried unlocking and locking with fob and key, no joy.....
( nothing found on a search on here either)
It’s my 99’ V70 with no keyhole in boot door, just a blank under the little flap.
Stumped.

[volvo again]

Can you climb over the back seat and open it from inside?

[Paul240480]

Nope, no lever inside on this one ........

[huron]

Try pushing the roor shut while trying to unlock it.

[Paul240480]

Still no joy. I think the mechanism has broken. When I ‘pull’ the release, it moves back and stays there with no feel of anything releasing. I have to physically move it back into its position.
Guess the trim will have to come off to see what’s gone, but can I remove the trim when the gate is shut?

[volvo again]

Catch 22 situation...you need to remove trim to get at lock & open tailgate, but you need to open tailgate to remove trim...

Surprised there's no interior handle, might have to damage trim to get it off, wonder if it's possible to pull the top bit away from the door? Will need to replace the clips though...or maybe cut a hole where the interior handle should go?

[volvo again]

This might help...

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=58099

Also found this...YES you can open it even with the tailgate shut. I just did, but it took awhile. You will not be able to remove the interior trim piece completely as there are four torx screws that hold it in place, and they can only be accessed once the tailgate is open. So here's what you do. Climb in to the back of the wagon and firmly grasp trim piece just above rear wiper. Pull hard and a few of the clips will give way. You will be able to pull it open just enough. Locate the rod that extends downward from the exterior handle. In my case the rod was not engaging the "catch", which when depressed, releases the lock mechanism and allows the tailgate to open.

[Paul240480]

Brilliant post^^^^^^ thank you, I shall update on progress.....

[patstan]

Paul awaiting your reply with email address

[Paul240480]

Result!

Thanks to Volvo Always for finding that thread that I failed on. And thanks to Patstan on here for the measurements of where to drill to get at the mechanism.

Mine didn’t have that ‘spoon’ thing to release, but did have a thick rod coming down from the outside release to the catch. I spent 10 mins trying to move it ‘up’ to release, got into a bit of a tizz before stopping thinking and pulling it down with a pair of plumbers pliers.

Now to get the trim off and see what broken.

(I’ve taken pics along the way, so will do a ‘how too’ later)

Thanks again.