1998 V70: tailgate stuck shut; how in the world do I remove the trim panel while it's closed?

[atomicthumbs]

My hatch latch is broken.

Every resource I've found about latch repairs (bless RobertDIY for what he does) either starts with the trim panel already off, or says I should have the tailgate open to remove it.

I need to remove the panel to get to the latch. I need to get to the latch to open the tailgate to remove the panel. How do I escape this catch-22?

[scot850]

Here is a link to one way to get to it. The only other way is a bit more brutal

viewtopic.php?t=69541

There are other threads on a different way to access it involving removing the inner panel (the mounts are either broken or will be).
If your car has the inner release handle the outer trim has to come off. Look that up as it is challenging and again likely to crack. Plastic glue can repair it.

You wont be able to get the whole inner panel off. I did have a quick look for ai instruction or video but can't find it easily but know there is info on how to so this.

Neil.

[foggydogg]

Just went through the very thing.
As Neil mentioned, the clips/brackets are likely already in various stages of failing, so once you get the latch surround mentioned off, you really do just have to start tugging on it. Mine was repaired by a previous Technician with 8 nice, long sheetmetal screws. It was an extra challenge. I took the rearmost floor panel all the way out, but left the middle one with some padding to lay on.
Then careful work with a Dremel.

V70 hatch latch 003.JPG (288.4 KiB) Viewed 3882 times

A stout straight blade screwdriver was sacrificed, using a medium hammer, to influence the latch post apart.

V70 hatch latch 004.JPG (220.07 KiB) Viewed 3882 times

V70 hatch latch 010.JPG (221.74 KiB) Viewed 3882 times

You can wrestle the plastic sill cover off and get to the torx screws holding the post down, but if you don't do the surgery with it still firmly attached to the car, you won't be able to get the latching mechanism out once the tailgate is finally open; I guess you could do it in mid-air, but that would be pretty awkward.
The should be no children nearby when you do this. There will be salty language.

[erikv11]

Read the link(and link therein!) from Neil - you can do this without cutting or ruining anything (except old brittle plastic).
1 - unbolt "post" from body, no need to remove any trim for this step, open hatch
2 - remove the surround/cover from the hatch
3 - flip the levers on the latch to release the post, it is not difficult to do "in midair" you just need to figure out how the latch mechanism works

[foggydogg]

Read the link(and link therein!) from Neil - you can do this without cutting or ruining anything (except old brittle plastic).
1 - unbolt "post" from body, no need to remove any trim for this step, open hatch
2 - remove the surround/cover from the hatch
3 - flip the levers on the latch to release the post, it is not difficult to do "in midair" you just need to figure out how the latch mechanism works

I don't understand which 'levers' you mentioned. Perhaps a picture would clarify.
The original poster seems to be saying that his latch has failed in the locked position, as did mine. There isn't a workaround that I know of, and even with the latch on my workbench, it will not budge. When I get some time to tinker, I will dissect it further, but stuck means stuck - in my case, anyway.

[erikv11]

It was over 8 years ago and I didn't take pics and for sure have no detailed recollection, certainly no more detail than already in those linked threads. Or maybe you have the older style (-98) rather than the newer style (98-00), although your pic sure looks like 9187990 (newer).

But yes, in my post "figure out how the latch mechanism works" may be more relevant than "flip the levers." "Levers" refers generically to moving parts of the latch mechanism. You'd have to tinker. May be more challenging now that it is out of the car and disconnected from the linkages.

[foggydogg]

It was over 8 years ago and I didn't take pics and for sure have no detailed recollection, certainly no more detail than already in those linked threads. Or maybe you have the older style (-98) rather than the newer style (98-00), although your pic sure looks like 9187990 (newer).

But yes, in my post "figure out how the latch mechanism works" may be more relevant than "flip the levers." "Levers" refers generically to moving parts of the latch mechanism. You'd have to tinker. May be more challenging now that it is out of the car and disconnected from the linkages.

I am ASE certified in several areas, and earned a handsome living turning wrenches back when that was not very easy to do.
This is not the first time I have had a latch out of a P80 ( I currently own 6 ).
As I mentioned several times, my latch failed in the closed and secured position. No amount of flipping levers or "figuring out" was going to change that fact. With the latch failed in the closed position, it was much safer to cut the post with it still attached to the car. I still can't think of any easy way to complete that task with the post unbolted from the sill, still captured by the failed latch.
Once the original poster solves his instant dilemma, maybe we can hear how it was resolved. I already posted my solution, and the replacement post and latch work as intended.
The failed latch is on my workbench, awaiting post-mortem.

[erikv11]

It was over 8 years ago and I didn't take pics and for sure have no detailed recollection, certainly no more detail than already in those linked threads. Or maybe you have the older style (-98) rather than the newer style (98-00), although your pic sure looks like 9187990 (newer).

But yes, in my post "figure out how the latch mechanism works" may be more relevant than "flip the levers." "Levers" refers generically to moving parts of the latch mechanism. You'd have to tinker. May be more challenging now that it is out of the car and disconnected from the linkages.

I am ASE certified in several areas, and earned a handsome living turning wrenches back when that was not very easy to do.
This is not the first time I have had a latch out of a P80 ( I currently own 6 ).
As I mentioned several times, my latch failed in the closed and secured position. No amount of flipping levers or "figuring out" was going to change that fact. With the latch failed in the closed position, it was much safer to cut the post with it still attached to the car. I still can't think of any easy way to complete that task with the post unbolted from the sill, still captured by the failed latch.
Once the original poster solves his instant dilemma, maybe we can hear how it was resolved. I already posted my solution, and the replacement post and latch work as intended.
The failed latch is on my workbench, awaiting post-mortem.

Sure, I understand that perhaps yours can't be fixed this way. In my previous post I mistakenly did not acknowledge that fact I see. I'm just sharing what info I could recall regarding the links when I posted my solution from many years ago, I thought you were asking for that.

I was certain that as a former tech you would have no issues with general language like "figure it out" as it applies to in this instance. My mistake, I'll try not to do that again.

Looking forward to the post-mortem!

[atomicthumbs]

Looking forward to the post-mortem!

Happily (but sadly for those with similar issues), I was able to get the thing open one more time by repeatedly actuating the unlock lever on the driver's side door. The latch was falling the hell apart inside, it's no wonder nothing worked anymore; the parts making contact with the hatch open sensor microswitch were worn away and shredded, half the attachment points for various rods just snapped, and so on. It's a miracle the thing worked at all. New one's installed and working perfectly, though one of the big Torx bolts holding it to the tailgate was missing, so I'm gonna have to find another one at some point.

Thanks everyone for your help and input here.

[scot850]

Glad you were successful. Do get that Torx screw ASAP or it may break again!

Neil.