99 V70 door still won't open

JonBlanchard · Post by **JonBlanchard** » 21 Nov 2008, 07:53

Despite some help from other members I still can't open the driver door on my 99 V70. Apparently the latch mechanism changed in 99 and earlier posts about rods falling out don't seem to help here as the rods seem to be enclosed in case.

The problem is, I can't even remove that locking mechanism without getting the door open to get at the torx screw holding it in.

Anyone know how to open this door?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 21 Nov 2008, 17:37

I'm sorry...I wish I knew. You might be in for a trip to the dealer. See if they'll just get it open for you...with the deal that you'll do the rest of the repair, if you want to save some $$. A good trick is to find a reputable dealer and go in when they don't seem so busy with a box of donuts and see if a tech will help you. Let them know you're a DIY guy and even buy an oil filter or so...seems that good will on both sides goes a long way at some dealers, whereas, some dealers are just snobs.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 21 Nov 2008, 18:48

The only thing I can come up with is a locksmith with a "slim jim" to pop the door open. I'm not in the car stealing business so I'm not sure if that will open a door of just pull up the lock. It might be worth a call to your local locksmith to ask.

...Lee

Post by **VCA** » 22 Nov 2008, 05:34

Ozark Lee wrote:The only thing I can come up with is a locksmith with a "slim jim" to pop the door open. I'm not in the car stealing business so I'm not sure if that will open a door of just pull up the lock. It might be worth a call to your local locksmith to ask.

...Lee

I doubt that a 'slim jim' will work on these cars--having seen the lock mechanism up close and personal (several times in the last 10K miles!), it's a pretty high-security design. There's a cam assembly that rotates when it's unlocked and allows a pawl to engage when you pull on the door handle, and I wonder if that's what's broken...if it is, I have no idea how you'd get the door open short of slicing the entire lock unit in half from the inside (through the access hatch that you use to change the module)

JonBlanchard · Post by **JonBlanchard** » 23 Nov 2008, 08:05

Thanks folks. With all the feeling around inside the door I agree that there doesn't seem to be anything that the Slim Jim tool could pull on. Bit it is worth a try with a good lock smith. It is beginning to sound like a trip to the dealer may be the only way to find what's possible.