2008 S40 Door Lock Repair/Replacement

[Sforty]

Hi, I have a 2008 Volvo S40 2.0D. My fob doesn't work at the moment so I use the key blade to open the driver door and get into my car.

The weather was pretty bad overnight and yesterday I tried to put the key into the lock but it was frozen shut. I wriggled it a bit and heard the ice crack, so I poured some warm water over the panel (not the lock) to try and thaw it. I used some de-icer, too, but no luck. I can hear the lock mechanism moving when I turn to the left to lock the car and I can feel the tension when I move it to the right to unlock, but there is no 'click'.

It still didn't work 24hrs later so I called my breakdown cover provider who managed to open it up pretty quickly by putting in an inflatable bag between the window and panel, which meant he could put a tool in to unlock the door. He advised the mechanism might have seized.

So, although I can now get into my car I need to replace the driver-side door lock. Has anyone experienced this before? Any guides, etc? I'm not sure whether it's a DIY job or worth taking to the garage.

Any advice appreciated!

[LizardOfBodom]

Originally Posted by Sforty

Hi, I have a 2008 Volvo S40 2.0D. My fob doesn't work at the moment so I use the key blade to open the driver door and get into my car.

The weather was pretty bad overnight and yesterday I tried to put the key into the lock but it was frozen shut. I wriggled it a bit and heard the ice crack, so I poured some warm water over the panel (not the lock) to try and thaw it. I used some de-icer, too, but no luck. I can hear the lock mechanism moving when I turn to the left to lock the car and I can feel the tension when I move it to the right to unlock, but there is no 'click'.

It still didn't work 24hrs later so I called my breakdown cover provider who managed to open it up pretty quickly by putting in an inflatable bag between the window and panel, which meant he could put a tool in to unlock the door. He advised the mechanism might have seized.

So, although I can now get into my car I need to replace the driver-side door lock. Has anyone experienced this before? Any guides, etc? I'm not sure whether it's a DIY job or worth taking to the garage.

Any advice appreciated!

No clue whats involved or how complicated lock replacement is but you might find out that programming your fob for remote opening is cheaper/easier solution.

[Sforty]

Have you had any experience with programming the fob? I took it to 3 different auto-electricians who advised it has to be done by a Volvo main dealer. I don't live near a dealer and have been a bit hesitant due to the potential cost so haven't pursued it yet.

[LizardOfBodom]

Originally Posted by Sforty

Have you had any experience with programming the fob? I took it to 3 different auto-electricians who advised it has to be done by a Volvo main dealer. I don't live near a dealer and have been a bit hesitant due to the potential cost so haven't pursued it yet.

Unfortunately they are all right. Main dealer only for key programming or fob-pairing :/

[FunkyMelon]

Yep, sadly everything software wise is dealer only, there is no other way

[Sforty]

I've managed to disassemble my door card/trim using a guide on the forum.

Looks like my lock and actuator aren't completely aligned. When I use the key to lock it, the actuator closes the lock. When I try to unlock it, the cable that runs from the lock to the actuator doesn't retract, but I can physically push the cable with a screwdriver until I hear a 'click' and the door locks. The cable seems to have a kink at the very top, which means it doesn't drop all the way. Perhaps this is the problem..

Does anyone know how it should work? Although I've found what seems to be the culprit, I'm afraid I don't know enough about the mechanisms to understand what needs to be fixed!