OH NO. 4000 miles on the new XC and here start the problems: This is an addendum to a post a few days ago about the locking/alarm system--Tried to fuel up today--what a surprise--can not get the fuel filler door open. Hmmm. Manual says the fuel door lock is tied to the locking system. Locking system is down, all fuses seem to be OK. No message in the "message center". I made an appt 10 days out, so I could secure a loaner--not knowing about the fuel door. Guess, I'll have to park it or see if they can get the car in sooner.

Is there a manual override to the fuel door?????

yo P

Have you tried to unlock the doors(turn the key twice) by using the key

in the drivers door?

C.

There is just a very remote possibility that the pin which secures the filler lid is accessible from the inside of the cargo area behind the light access flap. The dealer must have some method in case the electrical pin mechanism fails. I really don't know if this is possible but you may want to try. Too bad about your problems - I hope you get them resolved because you were happy with the car until recently.

John:

Took the car to the dealer today, there is NO manual override on these new models.

I hope it gets fixed. I understand that there is no manual override. I had a similar problem on a Mercedes when the hydraulic locking pin failed, as could the electrical pin in your Volvo. By getting access to the other side of the sheet metal from which the pin protrudes into the gas cap compartment, it was possible, with a little dexterity, to reach the pin on the inside and manually pull it back. Then I disabled the pin until a permanent fix was available. The question is whether there is access to a sinuous hand from the inside in your Volvo (and my similar car)! If not, and if the pin unit itself failed or jammed, would the dealer have to jimmie the gas cap cover rather than attacking from the inside with the trim removed? Ugh!

When the gas door lock solenoid failed in my '96 850 wagon, I was fortunately able to reach a dealer before running out of fuel. Turns out the locking pin in the solenoid is plastic. The mechanic slipped some sort of narrow tool -- knife, hacksaw blade, or thin snips -- into the slot next to the gas door and cut the pin without otherwise damaging the car. Prying the gas door open would have been messy. I considered leaving it this way so as not to get locked out of the fuel filler in the future, but finally decided to let the dealer replace the solenoid, now that I know the "secret" should the solenoid fail again.

John R wrote:

> I hope it gets fixed. I understand that there is no manual override.

> I had a similar problem on a Mercedes when the hydraulic locking pin

> failed, as could the electrical pin in your Volvo. By getting access

> to the other side of the sheet metal from which the pin protrudes

> into the gas cap compartment, it was possible, with a little

> dexterity, to reach the pin on the inside and manually pull it back.

> Then I disabled the pin until a permanent fix was available. The

> question is whether there is access to a sinuous hand from the inside

> in your Volvo (and my similar car)! If not, and if the pin unit

> itself failed or jammed, would the dealer have to jimmie the gas cap

> cover rather than attacking from the inside with the trim removed?

> Ugh!

Palnman:

I think you get time added to your warranty & warranty adjustment periods for periods when the car is inop and you have been refused a loaner.

Could be wrong, worth asking about, maybe.