The door at the back, I mean!

Even when the catch is up, the door won't budge. Any suggestions?

kick it from the inside

Does this only happen from the inside? if so the child lock is probably on.

If stuck from both sides then do as slab has mentioned but have an assistant lift the door handle from the outside while you kick from the inside.

Plenty of WD40.

I should have explained that the door opens from the inside only. The external door handle does not seem to work.

oh right, take the inner panel off and re-hook the rods up

Yep, check the rods. Exactly that happened to me, the rod connecting the central locking motor/lock bit sticking out the top to the handle had fallen off so the door handle was stuck in lock (when the door is locked, the inside handle works, the outside doesn't). This was also alot easier to get to than the rest of the door handle mechanism, which is where I first went to look :/

tom,
this might be of interest to you
http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum2/vol ... 0-f298.htm

incedently the door still opens and theres still no door rod

I had to get this problem sorted out twice in 2 months . When I bought my 340 the front passenger door would'nt open and I drove around like it until the MOT was looming. I took the door interior panel out and found the part of the handle where the rod connects had shreaded off.
It cost £42 including the replacement door handle and fitting at the garage to put right . Stupidly I did'nt get the lock barrel swopped over .... and a few weeks later the same happened with the drivers door , so for a few weeks entry was via the boot
Will ereg340