V70 Body/Trim: V70 2001 Fuel Filler Flap

[crcowley]

Hi, Can anyone help me? The motor that controls the locking mechanism for the fuel flap lock is only operating one way, leaving it in the locked position. I guess it must be electrical; does anyone know if this is likely to be the motor itself, or some other wiring problem? I've opened the mechanism up and it is just the motor itself which will operate one way, not the whole piece (i.e.plastic cogs etc).Many thanks guys.

[ASt85]

Mine jammed last month - it is straight forward to release it.
I posted "how to fix it" here
http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=143888

[ASt85]

When you say "it will only work one way", is that with the unit in the car, or on test by reversing the voltage to the terminals?

If the motor operates in one direction, then it should work in the opposite direction. If you are testing it in the car, it could simply be jamming as it rolls back, try a little WD40 on the actuator rod, don't spray it on, dab it on with a cotton bud when the actuator rod is in the forward position, then gently push/pull the rod a few times to coat the entire rod.

If it still doesn't want to roll back from the locked position, pull back the actuator rod manually from within the car, open the fuel flap open, leave the fuel flap open and activate the lock - after a few minutes you should see the rod move into the locked position.

Using some long nosed pliers, gently move the rod back about 1 or 2mm, then whilst watching the rod, unlock the car, if the rod fully withdraws, it is possible that the motor within the lock has a faulty commutator - the design causes them to move through the same distance/number of turns with each operation, so in theory come to rest at around the same point on the commutator each time, if that comm point is dead, it won't roll back as the brushes are so narrow they only act across one set of motor windings/pair of commutators at a time.

If the rod moves, you know you've got power, and its then a question of sorting out the motor.

If the rod doesn't move at all when unlocking, check to make sure there is a pulse voltage at the terminal block during the unlock phase - measure the voltage across the the connector - if there is no voltage detected in the unlock phase then the fault is within the electrical system and should show up with a code read.

[october37]

Originally Posted by crcowley

Hi, Can anyone help me? The motor that controls the locking mechanism for the fuel flap lock is only operating one way, leaving it in the locked position. I guess it must be electrical; does anyone know if this is likely to be the motor itself, or some other wiring problem? I've opened the mechanism up and it is just the motor itself which will operate one way, not the whole piece (i.e.plastic cogs etc).Many thanks guys.

Going from memory, the fuel flap lock has two seperate relays . It locks together with the rear doors and boot, but has a seperate relay to open it (173). The fuse should be F8 in the rear compartment fuse box.

Keith F. 55reg V70SE D5 AWD Geartronic

[crcowley]

Originally Posted by ASt85

When you say "it will only work one way", is that with the unit in the car, or on test by reversing the voltage to the terminals?

If the motor operates in one direction, then it should work in the opposite direction. If you are testing it in the car, it could simply be jamming as it rolls back, try a little WD40 on the actuator rod, don't spray it on, dab it on with a cotton bud when the actuator rod is in the forward position, then gently push/pull the rod a few times to coat the entire rod.

If it still doesn't want to roll back from the locked position, pull back the actuator rod manually from within the car, open the fuel flap open, leave the fuel flap open and activate the lock - after a few minutes you should see the rod move into the locked position.

Using some long nosed pliers, gently move the rod back about 1 or 2mm, then whilst watching the rod, unlock the car, if the rod fully withdraws, it is possible that the motor within the lock has a faulty commutator - the design causes them to move through the same distance/number of turns with each operation, so in theory come to rest at around the same point on the commutator each time, if that comm point is dead, it won't roll back as the brushes are so narrow they only act across one set of motor windings/pair of commutators at a time.

If the rod moves, you know you've got power, and its then a question of sorting out the motor.

If the rod doesn't move at all when unlocking, check to make sure there is a pulse voltage at the terminal block during the unlock phase - measure the voltage across the the connector - if there is no voltage detected in the unlock phase then the fault is within the electrical system and should show up with a code read.

Many thanks indeed for your detailed reply - I really appreciate the help. I know that the motor is only working one way as I've had it out of the unit on its own. Another member has suggested that the motor directions work from separate fuses, so I now have a good list of checks to make.

[crcowley]

Originally Posted by october37

Going from memory, the fuel flap lock has two seperate relays . It locks together with the rear doors and boot, but has a seperate relay to open it (173). The fuse should be F8 in the rear compartment fuse box.

Keith F. 55reg V70SE D5 AWD Geartronic

That's really helpful. Many thanks for taking the trouble to respond - very much appreciated.

[ASt85]

When you had the switch out did you test it using the connection from the car's loom or from a separate power source?

An in car test would identify faulty relay/fuse/& etc. but again, don't forget the time delay to lock - there is no delay to unlock.

To establish a directional fault with the motor, it must be tested using a power source that does not come via the car's system connection - three 1.5volt cells in series will be enough to make the motor move.