Torx screws to remove door latch wont budge

[hayesman76]

On my great-running 1998 S70 the driver-side passenger door won’t close completely because the metal latch in the door won’t open so that it can be caught by the metal bar attached to the door’s frame (I hope that makes sense.) Unfortunately the button that goes up and down when the door is unlocked fell into the door itself.
I’m planning to sell the car in the near future (maybe before the end of the year) and figured I was willing to continue driving it as long as I can get the door closed (right now the metal catch in the door lock mechanism hits the horizontal bar in the door frame, preventing the door from closing completely.
Today I tried to unscrew both the torx screws that hold the horizontal bar to remove it, as well as the ones that hold the door locking mechanism in the door itself, so that I could at least close the door completely. I was planning on securing the door in the closed position with bungee cords or twine (I’m not really worried about theft and the car’s insured for that anyway.) However, those suckers were TIGHT! I was amazed that I couldn’t budge any of them with either a hand-held screwdriver or an electric drill.
Any suggestions? Al, I want to do is get the door closed flush with the car’s frame so that other drivers or the police don’t think I inadvertently didn’t close it completely.
Thanks for any suggestions!

[abscate]

You usually need an impact tool to break these free.

[MDK]

Here in the states there's a product called 'deep creep' soak it over night with a little tapping to set up vibration. Might strip a few torx bits.. I've broken a few..I did this to the latch on the tailgate my 1998 xc70 to adjust it. And too some lugs nuts that wouldn't budge...I won.

[MoVolvos]

Any suggestions? Al, I want to do is get the door closed flush with the car’s frame so that other drivers or the police don’t think I inadvertently didn’t close it completely.
Thanks for any suggestions!

There are two detentes to the striker. You maybe on the first only. Try pushing the metal striker further into the second then a combination of different ways to open it. Use the key, try the remote, pulling the outside door handle and the inside at the same time. Whatever you do don't force anything. This has happened a few times and I've never had to remove the mechanism to unlock it. Some cars will unlock the door just by pulling the inside handle. Each car is a little different.

Just in case you need to break the Torx free. Tighten it very quickly to unbind it and then counterclockwise wise. Spray a little lubricant and tap it gently with a hammer or dead blow to motivate it. Kind of like striking the tie-rod or ball joint. The quick sharp hit is what you are looking for not if you fail use a bigger hammer type of strike.

[ZionXIX]

I hammered my torx bit in for a good bite and then gently used a 3/8" breaker bar.

[erikv11]

... I couldn’t budge any of them with either a hand-held screwdriver or an electric drill. ...

Think of them as bolts, not screws. Just get a torx on a ratchet or breaker bar, be sure to hold it in the head securely, and you'll be able to unscrew them no problem. Taps with a hammer and penetrating oil are good ideas, those may help. However they probably have a drop of loctite from the factory, many door fasteners do, so penetrating oil not likely to help in that case.

[abscate]

The tool of choice on these is a hammer powered hand impact tool, if you don’t have the battery kind

[tardcart]

just leave it there and fix the door mechanism. why spend effort on something that takes you backwards.

[tardcart]

I propose the name change to MPS, Mathews Poorboy Site. where we discuss best practice to bungie doors closed, how to enter a car from the opposer side in case of broken handles, and ways to limp along a few more months with out attracting attention of police for dragging exhaust and broken windows. The logo could be a roll of wire and pliers crossed stylishly like a coat of arms. awards will be given for the highest miles between oil changes each year, if there is a major leak you are disqualified due to fresh oil being added. Lets take a vote between the 11 surviving members.

[BEJinFbk]

Have you tried releasing the door side latch lever manually?
Get a large screwdriver behind the latch lever and give
the lever a nudge open while operating the door handle.
Unless the latch mechanism is really messed up, it’ll open.