For the past few weeks my TAILGATE OPEN light won't go out. All the lights inside the car eventually turn off after locking the vehicle and when locked I can't open the tailgate.

I'm assuming it's the tailgate switch, but I'm not exactly sure where to located it. Is the switch known to go bad? Is it replaceable?

 

I think it is in the latch.

 

Hello, Try this thread: volvoforums.com/forum/volvo/-v70-13/tailgate-light-dash-always-9930 I also remember that the micro switch is said to be UNreplaceable. Kira

 

Link did not work. Try again please.

 

You could copy and paste the link and go to it that way. If that doesn't work google it.

https://volvoforums.com/forum/volvo-...h-always-9930/

 

Update on the tailgate open light. I put the key in position 2. Opened the tailgate, then closed the latched manually with a screwdriver and the light went out. I tried adjusting the catch on the vehicle side assuming the tailgate just wasn't closing all the way. That didn't work, so I adjusted it out a little more. That didn't work. Then, for S&Gs I took the little rubber/plasitic pads out of the catch. That didn't work.

I then took the tailgate panel off and the latch out to see if there was any adjustment on the micro switch. Nope.

Looks like the latch microswitch is working, just not be actuated by the closure of the tailgate.

Ideas? New/used latch replacement? New latches cost $155. Any ideas on a good used parts place? I'm sure there are some junk yards out there with wrecked V70s.

 

Try ebay or any of the forums, they all have classifieds and many parted out cars
Your problem should be the micro switch.
Also check for fittment, there might be other years that are the same as 2004

As soon as I get a break, sometime soon I hope, I am going to tinker with changing the microswitch..

 

I am not sure if you ever found a solution, but I had this same problem without the inability to open the hatch. But the light stayed on constantly. It ended up being a wire harness that had disconnected within the harness. I had to pull the two wires for the light, hard wire them and all is working properly now. Just something to check. Haynes manual has the best wiring diagrams.

 

No solution yet, however I was able to make the light go out by manually closing the latch with the tailgate open. SO, the switch and wiring is working, just not fully making contact when the tailgate is closed.

I found a local salvage yard in MD that has several V70s. Will attempt to replace with a new latch.

 

The part is the same from 2001 up..
Got to be the microswitch

 

Replaced the switch. Same results. Further investigation revealed that with latched closed tailgate open, light goes out then as tailgate is slowly closed, light come back on. Suspect wiring at the hinge getting bound.

Removed all the panels to reveal the wiring. Wiggled things around a bit. Now the bloodly light won't go out at all!

Which wire is it?

 

Opened up the slew of panels in order to access the L rear pillar wiring bundle. Remove the plastic wiring cover on the tailgate hinge. Played around with the wires right there at the hinge and saw the TAILGATE OPEN light flicker ON and OFF.

I pealed back the protective cover only to find the insulation of yellow and red wires were cracked. The black 12AWG wire completely broken.

I soldered the black wire back together and covered the red & yellow cracks with electrical tape. Buttoned everything back together.

Works 4.0!

 

Cool..

 

Anyone need a working latch replacement? I'm assuming the junkyard doesn't take returns. :O)

 

Put the thing on eBay or something. Glad you found the problem.