V70 Body/Trim: Tailgate wont open

[tmprutton]

After my temp fix yesterday it got even stranger, now when I lock the car it locks but still will not unlock using the remote but is does unlock when I start the engine? at least we are heading the right direction!!

[Chris_Rogers]

I'd check the pink wire at the tailgate harness, this is the one that tells the system the position of the tailgate (open or closed), it should be at ground potential with the tailgate closed.

[mvpguerra]

I have the same problem, my door won't unlock or lock, depending on the position I leave the solenoid's sliding pin.
Sometimes, after disassembling and reassembling it works for a bit but then it gets back to this annoying inactivity...
I tried the process you kindly shared and explained but the solenoid it's different and I'm not able to open it since it is sealed and have no lids like yours... On the other hand the wire loon is in excellent shape and protected by a neat looking linning of nylon cloth. My V70 was manufactured late 2003, maybe they modified some specs by then...
I will try to disassemble the lock again and try to lubricate it from the outside... It's that or a new part.
Sorry for my bad english. Thanks for the excellent post!

Also I should add that I measured the voltage between the wires when locking and unlocking and the current gets to the pins with the door opened and closed and the solenoid won't work either way.

Here's some pics to illustrate...

Update: I tried to lub it from the outside but it keeps refusing to work

Manuel from Portugal.

[mvpguerra]

Latest Update: I decided to stop being lazy and I removed the linning around the wire loom and guess what - not one but three wires were interrupted and one had lost its pvc insulation!! I repaired and it's working flawlessly! I guess I was (un)lucky when I measured the current and detected it whenever I clicked the remote...
Bottom line: lazyness won't save me money! Hard work will!

Manuel from Portugal.

[The Transplanter]

Again just for information.

My 2000 V70 T5 tailgate lock stopped working, on inspection of the wires between the tailgate & connector block behind the speaker panel, one of the .5mm grey wires had broken in two! I soldered in a section of new wire and hey presto my dog is now happy

I took about 30 minutes in total, and to be honest the hardest part was working out how the trim come off without damaging it

[jsniderman]

Thanks to the previous helpful comments, the photos of the lock mechanism and a healthy dose of luck, I was able to perform arthroscopic surgery to release the tailgate on my 1999 V70 following a low speed hit by an SUV. I drilled a tiny whole to be sure that I had found a spot above and to the left of centre where there was no reinforcing metal frame. It was about 7" above the floor and 3.5" to the left of centre. I enlarged it to 1/8" whole and then inserted a metal rod (a bicycle fender support) and prodded around to find the releasing "spoon" as one person described it. Within 10 seconds I had found the spot and had the tailgate open, which allowed me to properly remove the lining and correct the problem (a bent and thus shortened rod). The hole is so small that the fuzzy liner material completely conceals it and I will eventually try to pop out the dent by inflating a basketball between the frame and the skin. Good luck and keep sharing!!

[deepc]

A thanks, a results, and a little background and recommendation follow:

A huge hooyah to the original poster SYMES and mvpguerra for helping fix my 03 V70's stuck tailgate. I also had two broken wires, yellow and grey, and a black with insulation chafed right at the hinge. Quick solder job and all is well.

I went by the dealer and also emailed Volvo customer care trying to figure out how to get into the tailgate. The dealer said there's no way and customer care said to bring it by the dealer. Worthless. So I took the recommended route and pulled the trim back off the top, stuck one hand down in there and moved the locking lever to the driver's side--voila, one open tailgate. From there it was an easy deal with four Torx to undo the trim and commence the search for the broken wires.

So here's what really ticks me off, if you look at the right side of the tailgate's bottom, and at the trim, there's a hole there just right for a bent wire or perhaps a "special Volvo tool" that would fit in there, reach up, and rotate that triangular white plastic connector to unlock the gate. Now, I have no doubt that if I went to the dealer for a fix, the lock fairy would have opened the lid in 30 seconds, and then sat and laughed at the one hour labor they'd have charged. They have a means to open the damned thing and they're not bothering to help anyone out...that's bad customer service...no better than the ubiquitous "check engine" light that's always worth a $125 diagnostic charge.

It would be a cinch to make this tool, and prevent this hassle the next time the wires go.

Anyway, fixed thanks to this fantastic forum and its posters. Thanks again!

[eros5656]

awesome thread. thanks for posting the walkthrough and pictures.

any ideas on how to get the door open if pressing on the spoon isn't doing anything? i can pull back the trim far enough to reach my hand down, then depress the spoon as far as it feels safe before breaking, but the door won't unlatch. i've tried locking and unlocking the door and can hear and feel things moving around inside, but i can't seem to actually get the door open.

thanks!

[Trentham]

Just finished working on the tailgate on my V70 (it had locked). I'd Like to thank the author of this website.The pictures where very easy to follow. I'd had called a local dealership before my brother found the website and they quoted me £150 for the work.

[roryoc]

Thanks for the great original post - I unlocked my 2006 xc70 boot by pulling back the trim and using a long screwdriver to push the lock spoon. It has unlocked with no problem since (although I would not be surprised if the problem happens again, having read other posts).