xeps

So a while back I decided to add some gas to the tank as my car sits for the winter. Went to add the gas, pulled the release... and nothing happened. The "lid" to access the gas cap won't open.

As I pull the release, I can hear a gentle clicking sound from the lid, and it moves slightly but does not unlatch. I tried pulling upward on the lid with the release, and it won't budge.

I can hear/see something happening, so I'm under the impression that the cable has not snapped but rather something with the latching mechanism has come apart or broken.

Any ideas on how I can get this open?

elbeee964

[sitting down w/ virtual popcorn to await this story's outcome & backstory.]

Hang in there, jim.

wellcraft290

do you feel pressure on the latch release? if the cable was snapped it would be very free and the handle would most likely not pop back in. also could the latch just be frozen?

jimq

Hit above the latch with you hand as someone pulls the latch. Mine did that once and it was the rubber flapper was hanging it up from opening.

xeps

The release feels "gummy" - definitely not as positive as before, and it perhaps doesn't fully return - will have a look tonight. I can hear and feel something still happening near the latching mechanism - the body piece on the car (what's the proper term for this?) physically moves about 1mm or so when I pull the release.

The car is stored in an uninsulated garage, in Canada - figured it might just be stuck shut due to temps. Weather warmed up and nothing changed.

KirkF

pull release lever, and gently pop open with screw driver.

Kirk

911URGE

I have always worried about this happening and reading your post forced me to go out and see if I could open the fuel lid by some other means. Here is how I succeeded.

I used a 2" wide plastic putty knife and went in from the upper rear area of the lid near the corner. I slid it to the rear, catching the latch and pushing with medium force and the lid popped open. I did not pull on the release lever. You can see my amateur video .