V70 Body/Trim: Tailgate wont open

[oakbaybc]

Mr Symes

Just to close this off , it appears the problem was a seized latch. Once I had the tailgate open I was able to get the latch to open and close easily after the application of some waterproof grease to the mechanism. It now functions perfectly and has been doing so for a couple of weeks.

Thanks for all the advice and enabling me to fix this for the price of a tube
of grease instead of the $300 the garage was estimating to trying to solve
the problem!!!!

oakbay.

[Symes]

Good news that you're back in action again!

A stuck latch is a new one! But probably explains why the 'from the top' method wasn't working - another 'root cause' to add to the list here.
Thanks for letting us know.

[simpsont]

Before I was a member of this forum I could see the links to the images in the first post on this thread but couldn't open them. Now that I have registered and logged in I cannot even see the links. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!

[xentronic]

I need help urgently with the pictures too - have just logged in and can't see the links in the first post .... and I need to 'unlock' my tailgate. Could someone email me the photos rob@xentronic.co.uk

[Symes]

Sorry, I'll try to upload them this evening.

[Symes]

For some reason I don't appear to be able to edit the original post to include the pictures again... so here they are!

[fjllondon]

I was trying to get at my stuck lock mechanism for ages, not understanding why I was having so much trouble getting to it when the descriptions said it was easy. Then I saw the picture of the rear hatch from the inside posted above - on the 5-seaters there's no internal hatch release! On a 7-seater there is one, smack in the middle of the hatch, and until you've figured out how to remove the trim around the lever there's no way the hatch trim is coming off. The trim forms a handle for closing the hatch from the inside, and is as solid as a rock.

The trick is to use two screwdrivers. On the top side there are two slots, one on each side. Place one screwdriver in a slot and lever upwards (not what you might expect). Place the other between the handle trim and the carpet and try to lever it out. Applying pressure inwards (towards the lever) with the first screwdriver flexes the trim enough to release the barb, and it should jump out under the pressure from the second. Do the same on the other side and it'll come right off. If you have a friend and four screwdrivers you can do it in one operation :-)

In my case I'd already forced off all the other fixings, so when the handle trim was finally released the whole door trim naturally landed on my head.

What wasn't obvious when I started was that the release handle remains in place with all the trim removed. It has a push-rod that goes in a non-obvious place to the right of the spring on the child-proof lock (if you're sitting in the boot). That was a surprise - when I unscrewed the opening lever it just dropped out, although it looks like the push-rod would have needed to be detached. Luckily I'd photographed it first.

One advantage of the 7-seater is that you can open the hatch from inside easily enough BUT ONLY IF THE CHILD-PROOF LOCK IS OFF. This is manually operated using a switch on the bottom edge of the open tailgate. Make sure it's off before your solenoid fails!

I have photos, but I'm new around here and not sure how to post them yet.

(Incidentally, my problem appears to be a loose connection on the solenoid connecting plug - put a bit of pressure on it and it works, take your finger off and it doesn't. Where did Volvo get these horrible connectors? My car (a V70 MkII) is full of them!)

[yellowbird]

Originally Posted by Symes

For some reason I don't appear to be able to edit the original post to include the pictures again... so here they are!

Thank you for re posting the photos
I finally got my tailgate to unlock but in the process
managed to detach the rod at the top?
but
I'm making progress and want to say how much I appreciate
this post THANKS AGAIN

[colm123]

Many thanks for this post, such a simple job which could have cost a fortune if taken to a garage.
Cheers

[patstan]

I was experiencing tailgate lock problems, I found this thread and after a very long time i eventually opened the tailgate.

I followed the repair instructions and the lock continued to work for about a year.
I thought long and hard and decided to take a hole cutter and with a 32 mm hole cutter mounted in my drill I approached the rear door panel.

I cut out the hole and LUCK WAS ON MY SIDE, I placed my finger through the hole and pressed the door opener.

The tailgate opened. With the tailgate open and the inner door panel removed I replaced the tailgate lock. I placed contact tape on the inside of the door trim and pressed the removed circular plug covered with carpet back into the hole and there it remained never to be noticed by any one travelling in my car.

Then the locked failed again. This time I just pulled out the plug that I previously cut out and pressed my finger through the tape that the plug was attached to and pressed the door release.

This was the best thing I had ever done to address this recurring problem.

If you would like further info as to how to drill this hole drop me a line you will never have to remove your rear panel again nor will you be trying to find the release spoon from the small opening that you try to create when pulling the inner panel away from the rear door.

It's really a simple job. I will provide you with pictures if needed and measurements from land marks from within the rear compartment of the car.

You will compete this job and have no skin removed from your hands and fingers when completed.

Best of luck

Regards

Pat