Rear Taligate 740 Volvo Estate

I am unable to open the above from the outside only from the inside.

Where do I start the hunt for the problem.

 

We have 2 240 Estate cars - I imagine the mechanism is similar. I have
worked on them several times.

For the 240, with the door open, remove the plastic handle on the
inside, then the plastic cover plate, then the door's inside cover
panel. This lets you get at the mechanism as long as you have flexible
wrists and fingers.

Twice, the link rod from the key mechanism to the latch detached itself.
This way, turning the key causes NO change in the latch, leaving it
locked for use from the outside. The link rod is held on with a clip.
You might want to replace the clip if it seems weak (if you can find it
in the bottom of your door!)

I'd also recommend some lubricant, just on general principle. One of
ours is getting very stiff and dry, lube would help if I took the time
to get in there.

NOTE: The child-proof lock device is a small lever on the underside of
the door itself. Flipping this disables the inside door latch. If you
flip that, and the outside access isn't working, you can be in bigger
trouble. So be careful!

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If I sit in the boot with the central on I can open the tailgate from the
inside.

The childlock is not engaged, is there a solenoid in the back door that
releases when the drivers door key is operated

 

Assuming that you have electric locks this worked for me. Push the
tailgate opening lever forward first. Lock and unlock all doors from the
driver side. Open the tailgate and make sure that the lever returns to
forward position. This mechanism often gets corroded.



Regards,

Boris Mohar

Got Knock? - see:
Viatrack Printed Circuit Designs http://www3.sympatico.ca/borism/

 

I'm pretty sure that in the 240 a small motor works the power door
locks, though I suppose a solenoid could also do the job. It (and the
other power lock motors) are operated via the driver's door lock button
and/or key, as you described.

In any case, the electrical device in the tailgate moves the same rod
that the keylock moves. The rod is attached to the motor and key lock
at one end, and to a part of the latch assembly at the other end. This
rod enables or disables the outside thumb button. If the rod is
detached at either end, the outside thumb button won't open the door,
(mechanism stays in the locked position) but the inside latch device
will. That's a good thing!

In my case, a heavy slam of the door caused the spring clip to pop off
and let go of the rod. It takes some patience and flexible hands to get
in there, but worth the effort.

Boris Mohar wrote another suggestion in his post, which might do the
trick. Nobody has written (yet) that the 740 mechanism is different
from the 240 design. If Boris' method doesn't work, have some courage
and go in there, or you can have someone else do that.

Good luck!
Bruce Pick
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I now find that occasionally the tailgate will open from the outside as
normal.
This would lead me to think maybe the problem is electrical

 

Try this

http://brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/BodyDoors.htm#Rear_Tailgate_Latch_Wont_Open