Difficulty Opening Door to Gas Tank

I have experienced this problem as well. It won't open (for me) with the car running or the key out of the ignition. I have to shut the car off and with the key in the off position, I hit the button and it solved the problem for me.

 

Have the same problem. I sanded the end of the plastic piston which releases the gas flap cover because mine was a little rough with a small tab still attached. I also applied some oil to the moving parts.

Also I found that the key has to be out of the ignition and the driver door open to have a better chance.

 

Mine has not been a problem. Probably put gas in it only 6 times or so in the last two weeks though.

 

Most of the time, it is two or three pushes of the button before it springs open.

At least it works, better than have it not open at all or staying open all the time.

 

The first time I went to fill it I had a heck of a time getting it opened, I thought I was missing some magic Ferrari incantation. It hasn't given me any trouble since.

 

Here's the fix...

the rubber/plastic tether that holds the cap. It runs into the hinge tunnel for the gas lid. It gets bound up in the hinge. Make sure that when you are getting ready to close your gas lid, use your finger to slide the tether up out of the way of the hinge and shut it.

this is the only fix we have found at the moment. After several "adjustment" and lubrications, this is what we have identified as the issue.

Hope this helps,


Dan

 

Great info, thanks Dan!

 

I tried various things such as lubrication of the moving parts and fine sanding of the plastic notch where the piston moves in and out to lock the flap.

I even disconnected the rubber tether for the gas cap thinking that this migh get bound up.

But the flaps still does not open easily. Then i noticed that if i jiggled the flap and then tried to open it , that maneouver seemed to help.

I looked that the flap carefully and noticed a small guiding tab which fits into a narrowing groove. The final fit between these looked rather tight.

So I lightly sanded and smoothed the end of that tab and lubricated it too.

Voila! My flap opens every time like it should.
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THANK YOU!!!!

That worked perfectly. I have been frustrated with the same problem for the past 3 months. here are a couple of pix to help clarify what needs to be done.

The first picture shows the slot that the tab fits into and sticks.

The second shows the tab after the edges were lightly sanded. It pops open perfectly every time. The only other requirement is that the key is in the off position or removed completely.

Thanks,
SG
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