Login Register

1999 S70 Trunk not opening only with key

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

Post Reply
jonk1086
Posts: 11
Joined: 11 February 2015
Year and Model: 1999 S70
Location: Ontario, Canada

1999 S70 Trunk not opening only with key

Post by jonk1086 »

My 99 S70's trunk latch doesn't seem to be working, not the button on the driver's door nor the latch on the trunk itself. The only way to open it is with the key. All the wiring in the trunk lid looks very clean and original. Is there a quick fix for this?

Ozark Lee
MVS Moderator
Posts: 14798
Joined: 7 September 2006
Year and Model: Many Volvos
Location: USA Midwest
Has thanked: 4 times
Been thanked: 75 times

Post by Ozark Lee »

Most of the time it actually is a wiring problem that can be hidden in the loom. The way the loom runs along the hinge it is easy for the wiring to get crushed if there is a large item such as a suitcase in the trunk that is just below the hinge arm.

The way to test it is to remove the molded cover at the top of the trunk deck and check for voltage on the wires to the solenoid. If you have voltage there and it still doesn't work then the solenoid itself could be bad.

...Lee
'94 850 N/A 5 speed
'96 Platinum Edition Turbo
Previous:
1999 V70XC - Nautic Blue - Totaled while parked.
1999 V70XC - RIP - Wrecked Parts Car.
1998 S70 T5
1996 850 N/A
1989 740 GLT
1986 740 GLT
1972 142 Grand Luxe

User avatar
BEJinFbk
Posts: 4067
Joined: 5 January 2008
Year and Model: '98 V70 R
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Has thanked: 93 times
Been thanked: 146 times

Post by BEJinFbk »

Ozark Lee wrote:Most of the time it actually is a wiring problem that can be hidden in the loom. The way the loom runs along the hinge it is easy for the wiring to get crushed if there is a large item such as a suitcase in the trunk that is just below the hinge arm.

The way to test it is to remove the molded cover at the top of the trunk deck and check for voltage on the wires to the solenoid. If you have voltage there and it still doesn't work then the solenoid itself could be bad.

...Lee
+1
Cold weather and moving wires can be a bad combination.
'98 V70 R - Well Equipped for Life Up North... ;)

User avatar
rspi
Posts: 7303
Joined: 5 November 2011
Year and Model: 850 T-5R Wagon
Location: Cincinnati OH
Has thanked: 34 times
Been thanked: 72 times
Contact:

Post by rspi »

My most recent find was the electric actuator gone bad. Not an easy fix but they can be pulled from the junk yard very cheap.
'95 855 T-5R M, Panther - 22/28 mpg, 546,000 miles
'95 955 T-5R Yellow Wagon, Lemonade, 180,000 miles
--------------------
Volvo's of past: '87 740 GLE, '79 262C Bertone, '78 264, 960's, '98 S70 GLT, '95 850 T-5R YellowVolvo Repair Videos

jonk1086
Posts: 11
Joined: 11 February 2015
Year and Model: 1999 S70
Location: Ontario, Canada

Post by jonk1086 »

I've done some digging into why the trunk doesn't open. The plug on the wiring harness has 1 wire live at all times and 1 wire live when activating the latch. I'm suspecting it's the actuator that's gone. How do you get the actuator out? There are two nuts that come off inside the trunk lid, but it looks like it comes out on the outside of the lid behind the cover above the license plate......Any tips would be appreciated!

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post