98 XC70 Left Rear Seat Back Latch Won't Latch

**Chris Bowne** · 05-20-2006, 01:24 PM

The subject latches on my rear seat backs have always been a bit sticky to release. However, after dropping the seat backs down to make room for a dump run today, the left side latch now refuses to lock on puttng the seat back up.

Anything to do to try to reset the mechanism without removing the plastic latch trim cover? The biggest stumbling blocks for me to get access to the latch mechanism on the seat back are the flat trim screw cover buttons. How do you remove the trim cover? Are those buttons removable witout breaking, or are they sacrificed and need to be replaced with new ones every time you remove the trim piece?

BTW, to reinforce the Connecticut - Volvo Captial of the US stereotype, there were 3 nice examples lined up at the dumpsters at our town dump today when i was there - my silver 98 XC, a gorgeous silver V70 R AWD, and a red 96 XC!

Chris Bowne
Stonington, CT

**cossie1600** · 05-20-2006, 08:05 PM

98 nwas the first year for XC, not 96.

**Tyrant11429** · 05-20-2006, 10:28 PM

conn is volvo capital in usa I thought it was mass ? I've heard NJ too since there is a plant there.

**Chris Bowne** · 05-21-2006, 02:23 AM

Typo....the red one was a 99 not a 96. The owner said he waiting for his ETM refund to arrive....

**cossie1600** · 05-21-2006, 12:51 PM

CT has way more

**tgrumaj** · 05-21-2006, 02:42 PM

AND West Hartford CT is the Volvo Capital of CT!

**Tyrant11429** · 05-21-2006, 04:45 PM

Lol I guess so but I have seen more in conn, but ppl always tell me that mass is the capital. Well w.e lol

**Beiner** · 05-22-2006, 05:51 AM

Anyway, back on topic. That happened in my XC the first day I got it. I sprayed down the whole mechanism with silicone spray and just forced it back and sprayed it again. It worked! I try to keep it loose by operating it every now and then. Might not be much help but that's what worked for me.