tailgate will not unlock and open

melobsterman · Post by **melobsterman** » 20 Jan 2009, 17:18

Have a 01 v70 XC. The tailgate will not unlock and i can't open it. Is there a trick to manually releasing the tailgate so it will open? Can't take anything apart with the gate closed. next question will be how to take it apart once it gets open. sounds like the actuator is working which leads me to think a part inside the gate has let go. can you help?

mikeanthony · Post by **mikeanthony** » 24 Jan 2009, 17:55

Ive been looking for a V70 lately. Carmax indicates that some V 70s have a recall on tail gates. might be worth looking into.

a2matt · Post by **a2matt** » 27 Jan 2009, 20:52

This happened on my 98 v70 last summer when the tailgate was slammed on a wooden coathanger.

The trick is to get the panel off of the tailgate while you're cramped in the back. It can be done. Once it's off, you can unbolt the latch from the tailgate. You'll need to unattach all of the rods to the locks, etc. I can't remember exactly how I did it, but it wasn't hard once the panel was removed.

On mine, what went wrong was that there is a metal piece inside the latch which trips the spring to open the latch. This piece is coated with plastic and has a plastic rod sticking up which is what gets hit when you pull the handle (or hit the power locks). When the door got slammed, the plastic coating broke off and left me sol. I took mine apart and epoxied the plastic back on it.

Short answer - there is no easy open lever.

Post by **holler1** » 27 Jan 2009, 21:00

Try pushing in (forward) on the door at the same time you pull the release lever. Give it a quick hard shove in. That is how mine releases. It seems to free up the release somehow.

melobsterman · Post by **melobsterman** » 03 Apr 2010, 17:41

I never was able to get it open. a trip to the dealer and a couple hundred bucks did it. as it turns out the wire was broken and the latch would not release. I tried to get them to share how they opened it. They just smiled and took my money.

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 03 Apr 2010, 19:14

You have a 2001. Completely different car than a '92-'00. Ask here:
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... um.php?f=9

The Mad Mexican · Post by **The Mad Mexican** » 16 May 2010, 23:03

Its not a five minute job but you can completely disassemble the lock mechanism and thereby open the tailgate. I just did it on my V70 XC (Year 2000). You will need the following:
T25 Torx screwdriver or socket.
T40 Torx head driver preferably in an Allen key format i.e. an 'L' shape tool.
Pliers, Philips screwdriver #2
1. From inside the car start taking the tailgate apart. The carpeted panel will pull off its mounts up at the screen and the sides, however the bottom cannot be removed with the tailgate shut so the panel needs to just hang for now.
2. Next for some diagnosis. Check to see if the power lead is attached to the top of the lock unit. With fingers out of the way test the key fob lock button. If you can hear and see the solenoid operate great, if the solenoid is slow or does not move then it needs to be replaced go to item 3. Next check the steel rod linking the external handle on the tailgate to the lock mechanism. The handle end should be clipped in place at the rear of the handle, if its loose or not located then you will need a new clip. The clip is a small black plastic affair. It maybe easier to order a new rod. The other end of the rod simply passes into a plastic guide and is moved depending upon if the car is locked or unlocked. When unlocked the rod will move down when the handle operates and push a black plastic lever which inturn operates a small metal bar further into the mechanism which should release the lock. If when you pull the rod down there is no mechanical movement the rod may have come off of the plastic lever despite the fact it is still in its guide. The answer is relocate rod onto lever. So assuming all the above rods were good then we move on to removing the whole unit.
3. Securing the lock mechanism to the tailgate are three T40 Torx screws. One can be seen on the middle lower portion of the lock mechanism. Remove this screw. Also unclip the rod which fixes to the tailgate door handle, at the handle end.
4. Now push the carpeted panel back onto the tailgate and check out the floor of the car tailgate frame. You will see two square ish holes and inside these are two T40 screws these hold the latch in place, undo them completely. The screws will not come out of the frame but they must be completely undone. Next four inches (20cm) either side of these screws are two T25 screws. Undo these and remove them.
5. Now comes the fun part lift up the plastic frame from the latch about half an inch (2.5cm) and push open the tailgate. Excessive pressure will not be required. The latch may catch on the plastic but should be free able.
6.Now you have the tailgate open, to disengage the lock use the flat bladed screwdriver.
7. Next remove the carpeted panel from the tailgate, which will require using the T25 to undo the handle fixed to the bottom of the tailgate. This will reveal the other two T40 Torx screws for the lock undo those as well.
8. Now the whole lock and mechanism can be withdrawn out through the tailgate.. If the solenoid is busted then undo the two Philips screws holding it on and withthe flat bladded screwdrive prise open the clip on the piston.
9. If up to this point you have found nothing wrong with any of the parts you have removed take a closer look at the lock jaws, they may be caked in dirt. Use WD40 to clen it up. That is just the lowest lock jaw unit not the solenoid . Keep the cleaner away from the electrics. WD40 will help clean the unit out and lubricate it.
10. Refitting is the reverse proceedure, in order to locate the latch in the frame of the floor look to see where the dirt line is and match the same when tightenning the screws. The carpeted panel will no doubt need new plastic fixings as they will probably have snapped off.

chax · Post by **chax** » 11 Jun 2010, 16:04

My tailgate wouldn't open: turns out the insides of the latch were coming apart, a piece of which was interfering with the latch release mechanism.

If you just want to open the tailgate, do this: you'll notice, when sitting in the cargo area, that you can see the two T40 Torx screws that hold down the strikeplate. Remove them, and the tailgate will open with the strikeplate still attached to the latch. It's easier to access these screws if you forst remove the trim that partially covers them.

Stephen0523 · Post by **Stephen0523** » 12 May 2018, 17:35

Hello everyone. I just wanted to share this with the group as I think it should be done with everyone who has the Volvo XC 70. At some point or another you may not be able to open the tailgate like I was and the biggest problem was getting the interior panel off. I thought how ridiculous for Volvo engineers to put bolts that can only be accessed when the tailgate is open to remove the interior panel!
Today I went to the wreckers found the Honda CRV with a nice little access panel then I used acrylic paints to match the interior of our Volvo and installed the panel have a look. Now if ever I had issues with the tailgate not opening it's as simple is opening the little access panel pushing down the plunger and voilà!
Cutting the hole was not too difficult as I used a paint marker on the inside plastic area and use one of those multi tools that vibrate and cut a perfect hole.