How does locking gas cap work?
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,140
Likes: 76
From: Austin, Texas
How does locking gas cap work?
Went to put gas in the car for the first time -- opps locking cap wouldn't come off.
I could turn clockwise and click.
I could turn the cylinder with both my door and trunk keys (but not ignition)
Key would turn 180 degrees either direction.
I could not get the cap to turn CCW. I could force it about 1/2 turn but
then it would loose its catch and spin 1/4 turn then bind again.
Did find that on E -- I could drive another 12 miles home.
Never saw the low fuel light -- but who knows if it works.
Am I missing a trick?
I could care less about having a locking cap -- so if I need to remove
it and replace with an aftermarket cap -- I'm fine with that.
82 Euro -- no smog or emissions testing.
mike
I could turn clockwise and click.
I could turn the cylinder with both my door and trunk keys (but not ignition)
Key would turn 180 degrees either direction.
I could not get the cap to turn CCW. I could force it about 1/2 turn but
then it would loose its catch and spin 1/4 turn then bind again.
Did find that on E -- I could drive another 12 miles home.
Never saw the low fuel light -- but who knows if it works.
Am I missing a trick?
I could care less about having a locking cap -- so if I need to remove
it and replace with an aftermarket cap -- I'm fine with that.
82 Euro -- no smog or emissions testing.
mike
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,283
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From: Australia
Pretty much nothing else fits AFAIK. The lock is supposed to fail so that you can get the cap off, so your condition is unusual. I think turning the key CCW should unlock it. The gauge is not at all linear, and you can go quite a way at E before getting the low fuel light in my experience.
Give it a bit more torque CCW, it should undo , mostly with locked caps you have to drill a hole in the red outer so you can peg the inner and outer together and unscrew the inner from the filler neck. Do a search, you should find some pics of a dismantled cap.
jp 83 Euro S AT 54k
Give it a bit more torque CCW, it should undo , mostly with locked caps you have to drill a hole in the red outer so you can peg the inner and outer together and unscrew the inner from the filler neck. Do a search, you should find some pics of a dismantled cap.
jp 83 Euro S AT 54k
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From: Phoenix AZ
Thats the second reported failure recently where the "fail to unlocked" mechanism seems not to have worked.
The usual failure mechanism is that the rear part of the U shaped pawl breaks off - this is under constant stress from the spring when the cap is locked. Seems a stress crack forms & breaks. The material (nylon?) is not a good choice. When it breaks this should allow the spring to keep the pawl teeth always engaged - this is the unlocked posistion with ratcheting clockwise and inner & outer parts fixed together counter-clockwise.
The locked posistion is when the outer cap spins freeley in either direction wrt the inner cap.
Its possible in this case that the teeth on the locking pawl have been rounded over enough that they won't look in either direction - of that you have wear on the inner lock part ribs. However seems very odd it ratchets one way but won't lock the other way..
Seems you will need a new Pawl at least and possibly the inner cap part to fully fix it. . You may also have to sacrifice the outer red cap shell with a small hole to get it off. If you can live with non-locking - I think you could just glue the inner & outer together after this.
Alan
The usual failure mechanism is that the rear part of the U shaped pawl breaks off - this is under constant stress from the spring when the cap is locked. Seems a stress crack forms & breaks. The material (nylon?) is not a good choice. When it breaks this should allow the spring to keep the pawl teeth always engaged - this is the unlocked posistion with ratcheting clockwise and inner & outer parts fixed together counter-clockwise.
The locked posistion is when the outer cap spins freeley in either direction wrt the inner cap.
Its possible in this case that the teeth on the locking pawl have been rounded over enough that they won't look in either direction - of that you have wear on the inner lock part ribs. However seems very odd it ratchets one way but won't lock the other way..
Seems you will need a new Pawl at least and possibly the inner cap part to fully fix it. . You may also have to sacrifice the outer red cap shell with a small hole to get it off. If you can live with non-locking - I think you could just glue the inner & outer together after this.
Alan
Pro
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 702
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From: Palgrave, Ontario, Canada
I had a similar issue when I first got the car. I felt like I was missing something or being stupid. In the end I gave up and forced the cap off. I then found the O-ring was missing inside the cap. Once I replaced it the cap and lock worked as they should.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,362
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From: Sackville, Nova Scotia
This may be too simplified, but are you holding the gas cap still when you turn the key CCW to unlock it?
If I don't hold the actual gas cap in place while I am unlocking it, it spins CCW with the key and won't unlock or it "half-unlocks".
If I don't hold the actual gas cap in place while I am unlocking it, it spins CCW with the key and won't unlock or it "half-unlocks".
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From: Australia
I think Mike was saying that turning CCW, the cap binds.....sounds like it needs a lot more torque that it should to undo.
Alan - I have a new batch of pawls on the way...
jp 83 Euro S AT 54k
Alan - I have a new batch of pawls on the way...
jp 83 Euro S AT 54k
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Austin, Texas
I was out of town for a few days -- just went to check again.
with or with out key -- same result -- turns and clicks CW
CCW it turns, binds and won't budge -- continue to twist
very hard, then clicks through and will turn
1/2-full revolution and repeat.
I was able to use some channel locks and twist
Probably will punt on key/lock and glue the two sections together
Someone really wants my gas -- they can have it :-)
m
with or with out key -- same result -- turns and clicks CW
CCW it turns, binds and won't budge -- continue to twist
very hard, then clicks through and will turn
1/2-full revolution and repeat.
I was able to use some channel locks and twist
Probably will punt on key/lock and glue the two sections together
Someone really wants my gas -- they can have it :-)
m
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From: Northwest
I have to wiggle the key in my cap to get it to "catch" and work. The first time took about 30 minutes. At least, if anyone steals my car, they won't get further than one tank of gas.
H2
H2
