Body/Trim: Tailgate Lock Sticking

[sjr-997]

Does anybody else have this problem with their XC90 ?

When you use the remote control to unlock the doors, if you have accidentally tried to release the boot/tailgate when it was locked, the plastic handle sticks in the open position - to fix this, you have to lock the car again on the keyfob. then manually move the handle in the tailgate back to the closed position, and then click the unlock button again on the keyfob....tedious....I've tried WD40 and its made no difference. there is a steel bar which goes through the handle which looks v rusted. what is strange is that it works fine, as long as you remember you've locked/unlocked it. is it easy to replace the handle ? do i need to ?

[Miti]

Yup... All sounds very familiar... The section of the pivot bar you can see rusted isn't the problem though... It's the ends of this bar that protrude into the lock housing. They're semi-seized and it's these that prevent the handle from returning properly...

As far as I can see, it's a strip-down job from the inside to get to this... I'll be removing the tailgate trim and giving mine a damn good thrashing, when I find the time... Until then, it's remembering to check where the handle is when it sticks...

Tedious? yes it is actually...

[Rockhopper]

Yep, mine does this too. Rusty bits in there. Need to find time to get around to taking off the trim and having a look.

[Nick Volvo XC90]

Yes mine also locked shut over christmas. Took off rear trim yesterday to expose lock before I found this thread and managed to open tailgate using above method. But what now? Have any of you repaired yet?

[mr..bean]

Sorry to dig this up again, did anyone find a permanent fix for this?

Kids keep grabbing the handle while locked, very tedius indeed!

[Beavis]

not a great help, but mine started doing it a few months back.

mine just came out from the 90k service and it is all sorted. i didn't even mention it to them beforehand. just saw a "service lubricant" added to the bill. assume it was for the lock/handle as it has been fine for the past few weeks. there wasn't even a labour charge for it specifically.

i don't know where they sprayed/rubbed it, but it now works fine, so hopefully if you mention it to your local garage they should be able to do it cheaply.

[Rockhopper]

I applied a liberal soaking of silicon spray all around and inside the handle housing (you can get to and see the rods which do rust up) and it seems to have solved the problem for now - no need to take trim off just yet.

[pacerhill]

Hi Rockhopper, I see you managed to fix this with silicon spray which I happen to have, but I do not understand where you applied it to fix it. From the outside of the boot it seems waterproof, so how can you spray the silicone spray from outside. Or, did you climb into the boot and spray it in a specific place?

Very frustrating as I cannot give the XC90 a good clean in the boot.

[pacerhill]

OK, I found my silicon spray and gave a generous spray around the boot handle where your fingers go to open it. Still solid as a rock, even if I lock and unlock multiple times.

So my question is how do I start to srtip the interior boot coverings to get to the see the internals of the lock? Does anyone have any pictures?

Thanks,

[400-ascona]

I have a hatch boot handle, including number plate lights (no bulb's). It works fine, and I was planning to list on Ebay for £30 + postage. If anyone on the forum want's it outside Ebay, paying via PayPal or cash, I will sell it for £25 plus postage. Its from the 55 plate I'm breaking. It was reasonably easy to remove (4 off 10mm nuts, un-hook the lock cable and the plug for the lights, the trim was equally as easy to remove).
Rob.