busted tailgate latch - need input

syrdon · Post by **syrdon** » 24 Aug 2010, 22:20

I have a 96 850 Turbo wagon. My wife came home the other day and said the tailgate latch is no longer working. What's happening is this:

When you turn the key in the tailgate lock, there is a noise of something moving within the tailgate, but I don't think it sounds quite the same as it usually would when unlocking the tailgate (I could be wrong about this).

When you pull the handle it just moves without engaging the latch (if that makes sense), just like it does when it's locked.

My first question is, will I be able to pull the trim off the tailgate to expose the latch when the tailgate is in the closed position?

Next question is, has anybody experienced a similar situation, and thoughts about what the problem might be?

Thanks for any input on this.

Post by **jdw** » 24 Aug 2010, 22:25

Follow the instruction posted below to remove the cover. You'll be able to see the connecting parts to the lock. The little hook to the latch may have come loose.
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... hp?p=21305

syrdon · Post by **syrdon** » 24 Aug 2010, 22:29

Thanks for the reply.

Post by **vjaneczko** » 25 Aug 2010, 08:19

If you open it up, odds are good that the plastic clips will break and you'll have to get the tailgate repair kit. Check on the IPD one, which has more replacement parts than the FCP kit.

syrdon · Post by **syrdon** » 25 Aug 2010, 19:37

Probably a silly question, wonder if anyone knows of a way I could get the tailgate opened without pulling off the trim panel to get at the latch?

Post by **Pauloil** » 25 Aug 2010, 19:57

not without bustin it
it'll prolly be better once you use the repair kit
I tightened mine up and made it quiet, so now I don't want anyone else tearing into it.

sliptones629 · Post by **sliptones629** » 27 Dec 2010, 10:28

My outside handle has been doing this lately. I just found that the interior handle still works fine.

KlubMarcus · Post by **KlubMarcus** » 09 Sep 2012, 21:37

I used the iPd interior tailgate repair kit. It has all the parts needed.

: Bag fresh tailgate repair kit from iPd, so cheap and so effective.; CIMG1991 (800x448).jpg (119.92 KiB) Viewed 2168 times

I used a cordless drill and screwdriver bit and it made the job so easy. No more gap, trim is snug against the tailgate, and no more rattle.

: No more gap between the inner trim and tailgate and no rattling.; CIMG2005 (800x448).jpg (112.26 KiB) Viewed 2168 times

Post by **misha** » 10 Sep 2012, 20:03

syrdon wrote:...When you pull the handle it just moves without engaging the latch (if that makes sense), just like it does when it's locked.

Can you open the tailgate with outer handle and close it or it's just stuck opened?

If the latch on the tailgate does not accept a latch from the downside of the trunk i might have a solution.Something similiar happened to me about a few months ago.

coastbouy · Post by **coastbouy** » 14 Oct 2012, 20:57

I had a failed rear hatch latch recently in my 98' V70. When the inside or outside handle was used the hatch would not budge. I was hoping there was some way of getting the latch to release without having to take everything apart. Well after taking everything apart ( door panel, frame bolted "eye" (and then cutting the "eye" apart), the the entire lock mechanism) I discovered two things:

1. It may possible to release the latch without having to take everything apart... the the "V" shaped part that has the moving part of the latch (attached to the door) has a plastic cover, inside the thicker side of the 'V is where the actual "catch" of the the latch is. when I had everything taken apart including the the plastic cover of the "V" removed I could release the latch by pushing with a thin flat-head screwdriver onto the piece that is activated by the outside or inside handle. By removing the "eye" which is bolted to the frame (accessed on the inside with two bolts, you should be able to have enough room to rotated the still locked "eye", remove enough of the plastic cover of the thicker side of the "V" and release the "catch" ...did you get all that??',

2. I was able to fix the problem of the loch mechanism not working by bending the tab inside the mechanism that does the actual latch release, which requires removing the the entire lock mechanism and then unscrewing the two black screws that will allow you to take part of the lock mechanism off and access the "tab" that I bent slightly so it would move the "catch" of the latch.

Eventually I was able to get everything back together ( I did go by our local "Pick-n-Pull" for a replacement "eye") and have it work the way its supposed to. I hope this helps!