Help with driver's door lock please - 1997 Volvo 960

diyer97 · Post by **diyer97** » 06 Jan 2010, 13:58

I can open all other doors by pulling the door's lever after unlocked the driver's door BUT not the driver door; however, I can open the driver's door using the inside lever....
Anyone with any info to fix this problem cares to share I thank you in advance ...

Now I have to open the passenger door then crawl myself to the driver seat ..what a way to get to drive a Volvo?

Post by **RobTheModd** » 06 Jan 2010, 21:22

1. ok to clearify.
can you open the driver door from the inside,
yes / no
can you open the driver door from the outside.
yes / no

btw, thats got to suck getting in like that.

diyer97 · Post by **diyer97** » 06 Jan 2010, 23:07

Hi RobTheModd,
Yes I can open the driver door using interior lever but not from the exterior lever. Also I noticed there is less resistance while I was pulling the lever-in-trouble compared with the other door's lever (while I tried opening each door).
Thanks again Rob; What's wrong with your car door by the way?

Post by **RobTheModd** » 07 Jan 2010, 05:52

Honestly I had your same problem. except mine was reversed, would not open from the inside. but would from the outside.

Something has fallen off or is loose inside your door that connects your locking mechanism to your handle.
There is a little rod that connects the two.
get a clothe hanger for a replacement and just cut it to length.
I will surf around the site to find a how to for that but in the meantime if someone can chime in and get detailed with that please do.

My car like i said problem was reversed and it actually happend to both doors within a week apart.
but last night i was actually changing out the driver side door check because mines been broke since i bought the car.

*not ust to the whole not having to hold the door to keep it from flying open thing yet. but i like the idea*

diyer97 · Post by **diyer97** » 07 Jan 2010, 07:52

I just learned that my wife's co-worker's husband has the same problem
with his SUV (brand,make unknown ) the interest thing was both his SUV and our Volvo driver door lock problem emerged after He & I USED THE KEYLESS ENTRY REMOTE . We both have to live in these situations now:
1. Both wives claim that we the husbands got nothing to do so we messed around with the remote therefore the problem came. They said they only use keys nothing happened ...
2. Both of us, He and I, have to open the passenger door and crawl to the driver seat ...

Post by **RobTheModd** » 07 Jan 2010, 08:33

What it boils down to is, do you feel like taking the time to fix it or not.
the door panel only takes about 10 minutes to get off.

even if you are just looking in there to self diagnose it, taking it off and putting it back on is not hard.

it was 20' the other night and i worked on my car.
like i said, do you feel like taking the time to fix it...
to me it sounds like youd rather not have to climb thru the pass side.

SOUNDS TO ME LIKE SOMETHING HAS FALLEN OUT OF ITS PLACE INSIDE YOUR DOOR... TRY TAKING THE PANEL OFF AND LOOKING....

jiggle the door handles from inside and outside and notice how they move.
and if you want to get REALLY technical with it... take the pass door panel off and watch how that one works since it is not broke.

also try this, I asked a friend and he said his does the same thing.
pull hard and up on your handle. *but dont brake it* if it opens then your golden. if not see below

Or even better... this should fix your problem..
if you really dont want to look to see whats wrong and potentially just need a wire coat hanger to fix it...
REPLACE THE LATCH ASSEMBLY

diyer97 · Post by **diyer97** » 07 Jan 2010, 10:24

Will do what you suggested...taking off the door panel...
Will let you know ...
Thanks a lot!

960fasterthanmy940 · Post by **960fasterthanmy940** » 07 Jan 2010, 10:50

Tis the season!

This holiday my drivers side rear door handle went.

2 days later... My drivers door went..

It is a small metal and plastic bit which moves vertically (pulling on the wire/rod) inside the door to release the mechanism. There is no part for it.
Volvo Canada $179 + paint and taxes for the exterior handle assembly. I am on my way to a wreckers to check of they have any. I will keep you posted!

: This is the part (at least on mine!); IMG_5058.JPG (177.02 KiB) Viewed 5706 times

diyer97 · Post by **diyer97** » 07 Jan 2010, 11:29

960fasterthanmy940,
That's a great piece of info...
I'm going to take my door panel off tonigh to check it out.
Keep me informed. I may have to do the same..=>junk yard to get the parts. Used to do that for my old 1983 240DL.
Thanks !!!

Post by **RobTheModd** » 08 Jan 2010, 12:02

diyer97 wrote:960fasterthanmy940,
That's a great piece of info...
I'm going to take my door panel off tonigh to check it out.
Keep me informed. I may have to do the same..=>junk yard to get the parts. Used to do that for my old 1983 240DL.
Thanks !!!

so how did it go?