Wonder if anyone has thoughts on how to open my locked trunk.
The key fits and turns the lock, but I think the connection from the key lock to the mechanism is broken or not working. The key will turn, there is a click when using the power door locks too. The outside release handle moves but you can tell by the feel it might not be connected any more. The care has a ski door, but other than that taking out the rear seat will not as there is a metal wall between areas.
Since this is an older car, it does not have the required inside trunk release that new vehicles are required to have.

Tried prying the lid up, that only bent the edge of the trunk.

Read where drilling a hole behind the license plate might allow for access to the linkage, but no real idea on where to drill.

Thanks for any and all thoughts

DanR '94 964 380,000 miles (146,000 on the new engine)
--
DanR

I wanted to follow up on my dilemma, trying to gain access through the ski hole was futile. Getting past the cover on the inside of the trunk lid was not possible. Those plastic rivets holding the fabric are impossible to remove from 3 feet away. Besides, as it turned out there would be no access from within, because the locking mechanism and linkage is sandwich between two layers of sheet metal that make up the back side of the trunk panel.

Drilling holes from the outside seemed to be the only hope, before drilling willy nilly, I stopped at my local, but hated volvo dealer, the parts guy printed out a diagram, which told me the mechanism from the release handle and the lock mechanism was on the left side of center. So removing the license plate and bracket, drilled about four inches left of center about 6-7 inches from the trunk bottom edge. Using a light and and a hooked piece of wire I was able to pull the linkage rod down and it unlocked. What was revealed is the lever one pulls to unlock on the outside of the trunk is made out a black painted white die cast metal, not unlike those cheap toy cars and trucks we played with as kids, well, where the linkage connects to that handle was completely missing, totally dissolved from oxidation.

Since the car has so many miles and my son has seemed to dent every body panel on it the past few years in college, I fashioned a new one out of galvanized steel, this has a loop that is exposed in the original lever location, the rod lever just needs to be pulled down by that loop to open the release. Figure in may only need to last a few years so the repair was very cheap, no cost. I suppose I would need to buy a trunk lid from a bone yard and swap out the mechanism to make true repair, not worth it at this time.

DanR '94 964 383,000 miles (149,000 on the new engine)
--
DanR

This is very good info. Steve, to the FAQ?

From the FAQs. No idea if it works.

"940/960 Cars. [Tip from Tony Diamond] The usual problem is that the lock control arm, extending from the lock cylinder to the lock itself, has come loose. This is unfortunately covered by the plastic boot trim and is not accessible through the ski hatch opening. You can try two approaches. Easy, risk free: remove the rear seat, climb into the trunk, remove the trim, and repair the lock. Brute Force: A friend with the same car allowed me to dismantle the trim in the trunk to see what was inside. I measured the position of the arm in relation to the rear panel, I then drilled a hole behind the rear number plate and was able to recover the loose end of the control arm with a wire coat hanger and then tugged it open with a pair of long nosed grips. The hole was 25mm and was treated and sealed with a rubber grommet and is unseen under the number plate.
--
Post Back. That's whats makes this forum work.

During extrication drills, I had occasion to use a small spreader tool, I think, a Rabbit tool, to pry three trunks open. I was surprised how easily they opened, and that they appeared to suffer no damage.

I suggest that you try a dealer, or your local fire department rescue squad.
--
'96 855R,'64 PV544 driver, '67 P1800 basket case, '72 Yamaha Rd400, '68 Honda 350-4, '12 XC70, the first 5 are mine, heh, heh, 525,000 miles put on 10 bricks James A Sousa

I did try that and the trunk metal just wanted to collapse. The actual part that moves with in the mechanism to catch the steel part on the trunk opening edge is made of plastic, so one would figure some upward pressure and the latch part would crack, but not the case the metal edge started to deform so I stopped.

It was a good thought though.

DanR '94 964 383,000 miles (149,000 on the new engine)
--
DanR