2004 Gas Door Release Issue

xwake4lifex

xwake4lifex

New member
Hey everyone! Just putting some finishing touches on my new (to me) 2004 4Runner. I have an issue here that I thought was being fixed, but after adding a part I'm still having the problem.

So my gas door is loose. It doesn't snap shut or anything and to open it I just kind of press on the side closest to the driver's end and it swings open. I checked to make sure the cable connecting the release still works and it should be good. I had my girlfriend make sure the little knob pulls in and out on the gas tank when I pull the level under the steering wheel to release the gas cover.

I then noticed the gas door spring hinge was actually completely missing on my door so I ordered that $4 part and replaced it yesterday but everything is still not working like it should. It didn't change anything.

Anyone have any ideas? It should snap closed and pop open slightly when I pull the lever under the steering wheel correct?
 
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Yes pulling the black lever should prompt the gas door to pop open slightly. The spring tab in the picture is what i think was probably missing from yours. If it's not working correctly it might not be sprung open enough. Is what I'm pointing to in the first pic the same as what you got? There is also the release pin that is to the right of the gas tank which is what allows the spring to open the door, is that there? My spring measures 11/32 from the flat edge of the plastic piece FYI.
 

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I just installed that new spring tab and it didn't help. It's a Dorman brand and looks just like the one you pictured. The door release also moves when the level under the steering wheel is pulled so the cable in intact.

I must be missing something.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
 
How far does the spring stick out from the plastic?
 

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Is the release pin engaging the striker in the door? I have had to bend this piece on another vehicle because it would not catch. You should hear it click when you close the door.
c1bec7f077a8405ca08f64320b1cb514.jpg
 
4by4runr said:
How far does the spring stick out from the plastic?
Click to expand...

The spring sticks out just about as far as yours does.

ray k said:
Is the release pin engaging the striker in the door? I have had to bend this piece on another vehicle because it would not catch. You should hear it click when you close the door.
c1bec7f077a8405ca08f64320b1cb514.jpg
Click to expand...

The door does not click or anything when I close it. And according to your photo I don't feel it try to catch on anything. Maybe it is bent in too much like you mentioned.
 
You could clean the catch real good then apply some whiteout to that area to see the pins path and adjust from there.
 
4by4runr said:
You could clean the catch real good then apply some whiteout to that area to see the pins path and adjust from there.
Click to expand...

Well I gave the above part a small tug and that made it catch when I closed the door. Now it stays shut. Unfortunately, I think my girlfriend is blind because now when I pull the gas door release under the steering wheel it doesn't pop open. And now I don't know how to get it open...
 
It might have too much pressure on it, try having her pull the lever on the dash while you push on the left side like you were doing before or possibly pushing in on the right side might free it. Make sure that you don't try to force the cable by pulling the lever too hard. If you can push the right side in its possibly binding on the back edge, if you can push the left side in (door opening) it's probably binding on the front edge.
 
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4by4runr said:
It might have too much pressure on it, try having her pull the lever on the dash while you push on the left side like you were doing before or possibly pushing in on the right side might free it. Make sure that you don't try to force the cable by pulling the lever too hard. If you can push the right side in its possibly binding on the back edge, if you can push the left side in (door opening) it's probably binding on the front edge.
Click to expand...
I'll message with it when I get home tonight. Luckily I just filled the gas tank yesterday before I messed with this haha. It's just a gas door! It can't be this difficult!

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
 
So I looked at it on mine, it might be stuck on the plastic housing, if you're ok with that possibly breaking, you could have the girlfriend hold the release open while you pry the door open. There is a lip on the right side that you could grab. Or try reaching the catch with a long skinny screwdriver and bend it back out.
 
4by4runr said:
So I looked at it on mine, it might be stuck on the plastic housing, if you're ok with that possibly breaking, you could have the girlfriend hold the release open while you pry the door open. There is a lip on the right side that you could grab. Or try reaching the catch with a long skinny screwdriver and bend it back out.
Click to expand...

Thanks for getting back to me. I had my girlfriend open it when I pulled the release lever. I managed to slightly bend the catch on the door itself so it keeps the door closed when it's supposed to and let's me open it when I release the door.

I feel like the spring isn't popping the door open very much at all though. I've tried to bend the spring out a little more to give it more force, but that doesn't seem to do anything.
 
Ultryx said:
Thanks for getting back to me. I had my girlfriend open it when I pulled the release lever. I managed to slightly bend the catch on the door itself so it keeps the door closed when it's supposed to and let's me open it when I release the door.

I feel like the spring isn't popping the door open very much at all though. I've tried to bend the spring out a little more to give it more force, but that doesn't seem to do anything.
Click to expand...

My fuel door has always only opened enough to just get my fingers on the edge to open it all the way but this has never been an issue IMHO
 
AuSeeker said:
My fuel door has always only opened enough to just get my fingers on the edge to open it all the way but this has never been an issue IMHO
Click to expand...

Okay so maybe it's functioning normally now. It basically pops open just enough so that I can grab it with a finger.
 
Ultryx said:
Hey everyone! Just putting some finishing touches on my new (to me) 2004 4Runner. I have an issue here that I thought was being fixed, but after adding a part I'm still having the problem.
.

I then noticed the gas door spring hinge was actually completely missing on my door so I ordered that $4 part and replaced it yesterday but everything is still not working like it should. It didn't change anything.

Anyone have any ideas? It should snap closed and pop open slightly when I pull the lever under the steering wheel correct?
Click to expand...

so am in the same boat..could you point me to where you bought the $$ part?
 
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