On my '91 940 SE the car is equipped with a centrally operated door lock system from the driver door key. My right rear door lock has been working verrry slowly, and has recently quit. I've sprayed the lock with WD40 which did help a bit, but not for long.

The lock is getting power as if I repeatedly lock and unlock the car the door will eventually open.

Any suggestions on a fix?

Mike

If it got better when you sprayed it with WD-40, now you know where you have to spray it with real lubricant. WD-40 is not a lubricant, it's a cleaner that will seize your lock mechaism well and truely in a few weeks if you don't lubricate it properly. I would try one of the spray white grease products, and get all moving parts while you are in there.

Here is cold and salty Ottawa, these cars need the door panels taken off and the various mechanisms inside lubricated every 8 years or so for smoothe operation.

We had a similar problem with our 740, except that we discovered that the lock cycled perfectly with the door open. This suggested that the problem is actually failing wires at the door hinge. I never tested this, as the car was wrecked shortly after the problem surfaced, and the 940 hasnt got this problem yet. It should soon, though!

Well its nice to know that I'm not alone with this problem. The only difference is my is the left rear door. Sometimes it works fine when the weather is warm. Almost never works when the weather is cold. I have taken the door panel off and check everything out put haven't replaced the motor todate. I've owned three Volvos with central locking and my 940 SE is the only one I have had trouble with. The PO had this problem worked on more than once by never got the problem solved.

A locksmith told me recently that the worse thing for any lock is WD40. He only uses powdered graphite. Much less problem with dust, water or grime buildup. FWIW.

If you take apart the rear door (not that hard really) you can get at the door lock motor. It's actually an electric motor with a little gear that pulls the rod up and down. The thing has probably gotten wet and is starting to rust. You may be able to save it with lots of WD40 but the best bet is to scavenge one in a junkyard. The motors are the same, though the lock rod may be different front to back. The rod just unclips. The connector for the rear doors is inside the door post so you may have to pull out a bit of interior trim to get at it- or just cut and splice the wires. There is a connector though. Good luck!
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Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: 86 244DL, 87 244DL, 88 744GLE, 91 244: 808K total