06 XC70 Tailgate latch doesn't!

[scot850]

Not sure what my wife is doing to the cars these days but clearly she has upset them! First the 'R' and now the XC70.

The tailgate latch is not working as it should. The latch lever does not seem to full open properly. I have not seen the internals of one of these but it feels to me like something has maybe broken like a return spring?

I have had a look but can't see anything on the latch except for electrical issues.

Any guidance/education appreciated.

Neil.

[scot850]

Nobody had a P2 wagon ever with a failed mechanical tailgate latch?

Neil.

[scot850]

Well, in spite of no response, I took the tailgate inner cover off today to have a look.

Firstly, just a side note. VIDA says to remove the upper inner trim around the tailgate window first. I could not get it to move.

Decided to ignore the instructions. Removed the 4 screws (Volvo says they are 2 different lengths on the side and the lower ones, but they were all the same length) , 2 (one either side up high on the lower panel), and 2 on the lower edge in the grab hole spaces.

With a small amount of levering the panel came loose, but careful to support it as it is flimsy and will probably break if dropped.
There are about 8 internal plastic cone clips on the inside holding it in place.

Turns out you cannot do what Volvo says about removing the upper section first, as the lower edges protrude into the lower section to lock them in place!

I had a poke around but could not see anything obvious broken. The outside tailgate release handle felt stiff so I lubed it and the mechanism with WD40 and exercised the mechanism. Feels much more positive now and works ok. I will monitor but hopefully all is now ok and down to lack of maintenance.

Neil.

[Herb Goltz]

Hi Neil,

I had issues with the latch mechanism on my 2006 as well. In my case I pulled the latch to open it, but it wouldn't budge. I fought with it for quite a while, and while fiddling around with the exterior latch handle, I inadvertently pushed it forward, then I heard a click, and when I pulled it again, everything worked fine, and has ever since (several months).

[volvolugnut]

I have had issues with my 2001 V70 tail gate since I purchased 10 years ago. It has never operated with the electric lock. I have to use the manual key lock under the lift area and hidden under a rubber cap. I tried to get a new lock motor but it was not a direct fit. I tried to swap motor to my mechanism but that also failed. SO I use the key. To avoid the door open warning, I have cut the sensor wire.

But that is not your problem with your hatch. Since last winter I have had occasional problem with the tailgate not latching when closed. It may catch on the first level and not the second or may not catch at all. Warmer weather seems to make it easier to latch. This seems to be indication of hardened rubber stops.
I have tried adjusting the latch hook on the floor, but that does not seem to make any difference. I have not solved the issue yet.

I did not initially reply because your XC70 is newer and I was waiting for someone else to give a good answer.

volvolugnut

[scot850]

Appreciate both of you taking the time to reply. I am hoping it was possibly 2 things:

1) Car has had little use this year as our son lives with us and works from home. Lucky if car has done 500km if even close to that. Lack of use may have contributed to this as well as me not lubing the latch in a long time (years).
2) My wife can be a little rough on stuff and not check before slamming the tailgate. School of, 'if it didn't close the first time, open it and slam it harder!' The car has a Volvo over mat in the trunk area and then some old moving blankets for the dogs on top of that. She had not checked that the dogs had moved them so they were in the way of the latch.

I will now have to watch and monitor as we will likely use the car more now that we sold my wife's car due to lack of use as well.

The electrical locking mechanism is a known issue. Again in fairness age and lots of slamming does not help! Abscate did an autopsy on his failed unit recently.

Thanks.

Neil.

[firstv70volvo]

I have had issues with my 2001 V70 tail gate since I purchased 10 years ago. It has never operated with the electric lock. I have to use the manual key lock under the lift area and hidden under a rubber cap. I tried to get a new lock motor but it was not a direct fit. I tried to swap motor to my mechanism but that also failed. SO I use the key. To avoid the door open warning, I have cut the sensor wire.

But that is not your problem with your hatch. Since last winter I have had occasional problem with the tailgate not latching when closed. It may catch on the first level and not the second or may not catch at all. Warmer weather seems to make it easier to latch. This seems to be indication of hardened rubber stops.
I have tried adjusting the latch hook on the floor, but that does not seem to make any difference. I have not solved the issue yet.

I did not initially reply because your XC70 is newer and I was waiting for someone else to give a good answer.

volvolugnut

I can't help Scot850 with the latch problem, just not sure what's going on with the latch but I may be able to help you with your tailgate/lock/unlock problem. There's a common problem with broken wires in the left hinge area that can cause multiple problems including the no lock/unlock problem and tailgate open warning message when it's actually closed. This can also set off the alarm. If the wires are broken in the left hinge area you will have these exact problems and possibly more. The tailgate open warning is from a broken wire and I'm not sure how you solved this by cutting a wire, so I'm perplexed there but I do know how annoying it is to use the key to lock/unlock the tailgate so wanted to suggest checking the wires in the left hinge area.

[volvolugnut]

I have had issues with my 2001 V70 tail gate since I purchased 10 years ago. It has never operated with the electric lock. I have to use the manual key lock under the lift area and hidden under a rubber cap. I tried to get a new lock motor but it was not a direct fit. I tried to swap motor to my mechanism but that also failed. SO I use the key. To avoid the door open warning, I have cut the sensor wire.

But that is not your problem with your hatch. Since last winter I have had occasional problem with the tailgate not latching when closed. It may catch on the first level and not the second or may not catch at all. Warmer weather seems to make it easier to latch. This seems to be indication of hardened rubber stops.
I have tried adjusting the latch hook on the floor, but that does not seem to make any difference. I have not solved the issue yet.

I did not initially reply because your XC70 is newer and I was waiting for someone else to give a good answer.

volvolugnut

I can't help Scot850 with the latch problem, just not sure what's going on with the latch but I may be able to help you with your tailgate/lock/unlock problem. There's a common problem with broken wires in the left hinge area that can cause multiple problems including the no lock/unlock problem and tailgate open warning message when it's actually closed. This can also set off the alarm. If the wires are broken in the left hinge area you will have these exact problems and possibly more. The tailgate open warning is from a broken wire and I'm not sure how you solved this by cutting a wire, so I'm perplexed there but I do know how annoying it is to use the key to lock/unlock the tailgate so wanted to suggest checking the wires in the left hinge area.

Thanks for your comments. My wires had not failed in the hinge area. I rarely open the tailgate, so the key is not too much bother as long as the latch will catch.
volvolugnut

[nickbw898]

I replaced the tail-gate lock in MY01 v70XC two years ago after not being able to unlock tailgate. I did so with a used tailgate lock from a 7 seat model and also placed the interior trim of the tailgate - this version has an internal handle enabling opening from inside if child lock is off. I found that the solenoid mechanism had frozen. I noticed an occasional fault developed before it failed. Intermittantly when the tailgate was closed (while all other doors were locked and the alarm set) the indicator lights would not flash to confirm locked/alarmed state. This was linked to the Bonet closed state. I found that the right hand (near-side) latch was not fully closed - this is the one linked to the alarm. Pushing downward on this eliminates the problem.
Slaming the tailgate should be a no no.
In my view the 7 seater version of the lock is better engineered.

[abscate]

I have a wire break on my 2005 between theREM relay and the rear tailgate lock solenoid. I haven’t locked it in two years. This is when you really miss the lack of key cylinder on the trunk