2004 XC70 Door Lock Problem, Mechanical and Electrical

[Build]

Hello Everyone,

My 2004 XC70 started having a intermittent problem of not unlocking with the key fob. It's just dead, nothing binding or stuck, no activity at all. This was mostly on cold mornings, after warm up it was fine. Then it could happen at any time. Now it has gotten to where the key fob won't really unlock it, only occasionally. The times it won't unlock, the single mechanical key lock in the driver's door would unlock the door fine, until today. Now neither the key fob or the mechanical lock will unlock. When I turn the key, I hear the mechanism moving inside, but not unlocking.

Any advice on this problem? Thanks so much!

[volvolugnut]

I while back I had a similar problem on my 2001 V70. After removing the door panel, I found a small plastic clip had broken and the mechanical linkage was incomplete.
volvolugnut

[firstv70volvo]

Hello Everyone,

My 2004 XC70 started having a intermittent problem of not unlocking with the key fob. It's just dead, nothing binding or stuck, no activity at all. This was mostly on cold mornings, after warm up it was fine. Then it could happen at any time. Now it has gotten to where the key fob won't really unlock it, only occasionally. The times it won't unlock, the single mechanical key lock in the driver's door would unlock the door fine, until today. Now neither the key fob or the mechanical lock will unlock. When I turn the key, I hear the mechanism moving inside, but not unlocking.

Any advice on this problem? Thanks so much!

The original intermittent problem is usually due to one of the two switches in the door lock assembly but when using the key to unlock the door I believe this is a pure mechanical linkage between the key cylinder and the lock assembly. Either the rod linkage from the key cylinder to the lock assembly is disconnected like what happened to Volvolugnut or there could be a broken linkage piece inside the lock assembly. I had one lock where a metal linkage arm had broken in half. I have a couple of questions about the original problem when the unlocking was intermittent, if you pressed the key fob twice to unlock all the doors did any of the other doors unlock, same problem with different key fobs?


I've replaced at least three of these lock assemblies over the years, one with a broken linkage and the others with poor contacts with one of the switches (blue pieces in photo).

InkedV70 Rear Door Lock Assembly001_LI.jpg (201.74 KiB) Viewed 1057 times

[Build]

Thanks for the info volvolugnut and firstv70volvo,

When the fob was intermittent, there was no activity at all, just dead. Thanks for the great photo showing key parts and activity!

[firstv70volvo]

Thanks for the info volvolugnut and firstv70volvo,

When the fob was intermittent, there was no activity at all, just dead. Thanks for the great photo showing key parts and activity!

My car has a key lock in the driver's door and the tailgate (underside under a plug cover). Are you able to get anything unlocked with the key at this point and get into the car? The next thing I would suggest is pulling the driver's door panel off and checking rod linkage from the key lock cylinder to the door latch assembly. I think there may be a mechanical type problem in this area. I'm not sure what's going on with the key fobs not working.

I have another question about unlocking the door with a key; when you use the key to unlock the door does the door lock knob move up as it should to show that it's unlocked? Curious if the door is unlocking but the door latch isn't working when you pull the door handle, there is another linkage rod from the door handle to the door lock assembly.

[Build]

Hi firstv70volvo,

If I pull up on the lock knob on the door panel the door opens, but the mechanical key doesn't move the knob or open the door.

I'll pull the door panel and check everything. Thanks for the ideas.

[volvolugnut]

Hi firstv70volvo,

If I pull up on the lock knob on the door panel the door opens, but the mechanical key doesn't move the knob or open the door.

I'll pull the door panel and check everything. Thanks for the ideas.

Betting linkage is unlinked. Or, as they like to say around here - it is come from together.

volvolugnut

[firstv70volvo]

Hi firstv70volvo,

If I pull up on the lock knob on the door panel the door opens, but the mechanical key doesn't move the knob or open the door.

I'll pull the door panel and check everything. Thanks for the ideas.

Helpful video here


Note you will need to drill out a rivet holding the window channel rail in place and replace with another rivet or maybe a screw and nut if clearances allow.


Here are the linkage levers for the door actuator and with the door panel off you want to check if the rod from the key lock is connected to right lower lever, top right lever connects is the outside door handle. These two rods are between the door actuator and door so a little difficult to see but you should be able to determine if the key lock rod is attached to the blue clip in the photo and moving the lever up and down as the key is turned in both directions. The rods for the key lock and outside door handle are grooved and press into the clips. There is some adjustment that can be done with the rod to clip placement and it would be a good idea to look at the original position before removing the rods from the clips.

door actuator label lever linkage locations.jpg (350.82 KiB) Viewed 1005 times

[firstv70volvo]

Hello Everyone,

My 2004 XC70 started having a intermittent problem of not unlocking with the key fob. It's just dead, nothing binding or stuck, no activity at all. This was mostly on cold mornings, after warm up it was fine. Then it could happen at any time. Now it has gotten to where the key fob won't really unlock it, only occasionally. The times it won't unlock, the single mechanical key lock in the driver's door would unlock the door fine, until today. Now neither the key fob or the mechanical lock will unlock. When I turn the key, I hear the mechanism moving inside, but not unlocking.

Any advice on this problem? Thanks so much!

The original intermittent problem is usually due to one of the two switches in the door lock assembly but when using the key to unlock the door I believe this is a pure mechanical linkage between the key cylinder and the lock assembly. Either the rod linkage from the key cylinder to the lock assembly is disconnected like what happened to Volvolugnut or there could be a broken linkage piece inside the lock assembly. I had one lock where a metal linkage arm had broken in half. I have a couple of questions about the original problem when the unlocking was intermittent, if you pressed the key fob twice to unlock all the doors did any of the other doors unlock, same problem with different key fobs?


I've replaced at least three of these lock assemblies over the years, one with a broken linkage and the others with poor contacts with one of the switches (blue pieces in photo).
InkedV70 Rear Door Lock Assembly001_LI.jpg

Some additional notes in addition to my previous post, if after inspection you find the key lock to door actuator mechanical connection is good, it’s possible the problem could also be electrical (switches) or an internal linkage problem within the door actuator.
There is a direct mechanical connection between the key lock and door actuator to lock/unlock the car but I’m not certain using the key does a full mechanical sweep of the lock/unlock lever, the motor in the door actuator may be activated to finish the door lock/unlock process(full sweep of the lever).
Bottomline, if you see the mechanical linkage between the key lock and door actuator isn’t disconnected the problem could be electrical (switches) or even broken internal parts and the door actuator assembly will need to be replaced.

I measured an old part and verified when using a key, it moves the door lock/unlock linkage lever with a direct mechanical connection and during the lever movement it changes the state of the Lock/Unlock switch internal to the door latch assembly before the end of a full sweep of the lever. The change in switch status signals the door module and CEM to activate the lock/unlock motor in the door actuator assembly to move the linkage lever fully, lock/unlock only occurs at the very end of lever sweep. Since I’m not 100% certain the full sweep of the lk/unlk lever is done just with the key the problem can be electrical too, be prepared that you may need to replace the door latch assembly if the mechanical connection to the key lock looks good.