Fuel Door Screws on an '04

[Garanto]

Hi,
Im trying to replace my current fuel door for my 4runner from 2004, a hinge broke recently and I've been getting P0 error codes, so I thought it was time to replace it.

Issue is, the screws that bolt the fuel door in place look indistinguishable, I can't tell what shape they are and what to use to remove them. Here's the highest quality photos I could take, but it seems the screws are covered in rust. Any advice on what to do to remove them is appreciated.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Toyota doesn't use screws to mount the fuel door and it's hinge.

They're a funky rivet, which is why you can't identify them. We have a customer support program for Siennas where we replace the fuel doors, it's pretty easy to do.

I don't remember if they are a specific diameter rivet or if they are like a standard 1/4" rivet; I will keep my eye out and if I do another Sienna I'll measure them for you.

But you drill them out, pop in two new rivets and you're good to go!

 

[Garanto]

Toyota doesn't use screws to mount the fuel door and it's hinge.

They're a funky rivet, which is why you can't identify them. We have a customer support program for Siennas where we replace the fuel doors, it's pretty easy to do.

I don't remember if they are a specific diameter rivet or if they are like a standard 1/4" rivet; I will keep my eye out and if I do another Sienna I'll measure them for you.

But you drill them out, pop in two new rivets and you're good to go!

I have a rivet gun and rivets, that's not the issue. The issue is I've been trying to drill them out and no luck. The drill is set to loosen, I've tried 1/16, 1/8, and 7/64 drill bits, and nothing. I've never removed a rivet before, so I could be doing something wrong. What do I have to do?

 

[BlackWorksInc]

I sometimes have had issues with the rivets spinning when replacing them on Siennas.

I usually just grab one of my big boy drills (I have a 17/32" drill I use for installing M8 Nutserts) and carefully drill the head off the rivet and then push the rest out with a pocket screw driver if they give me any trouble.

 

[Garanto]

I brute forced it out, using a 1/4 Drill bit, shaving every piece of the rivet off... the ground around me shined silver and I think an gold panner came to shift thru the shavings... I used an hammer and peeled the door off, the teardrops left of the rivets popped off and startled every veteran in a 50 mile radius, and using my Roman Era chisel, the same one Da Vince used to carve the Mona Lisa in Starry Night, I pounded both rivets out with the sheer force of fifty thousand oxs. Now, I'll I'm missing is a 1/4 to plug back in. Hooray...

 

[Garanto]

Toyota doesn't use screws to mount the fuel door and it's hinge.

They're a funky rivet, which is why you can't identify them. We have a customer support program for Siennas where we replace the fuel doors, it's pretty easy to do.

I don't remember if they are a specific diameter rivet or if they are like a standard 1/4" rivet; I will keep my eye out and if I do another Sienna I'll measure them for you.

But you drill them out, pop in two new rivets and you're good to go!

Hey pal, I'm looking for rivets and 3/16 don't fit, so now I'm looking for 1/4 rivets as you suggested but not Lowes or Home Depot carries bigger than 3/16, so I looked on Amazon and I found too many options. I don't want to waste my money, so if you'd be kind enough to recommend what rivet I should get, it'd be appreciated. Thanks bro.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Hey pal, I'm looking for rivets and 3/16 don't fit, so now I'm looking for 1/4 rivets as you suggested but not Lowes or Home Depot carries bigger than 3/16, so I looked on Amazon and I found too many options. I don't want to waste my money, so if you'd be kind enough to recommend what rivet I should get, it'd be appreciated. Thanks bro.

So doing some Googling for Part Number# 90269-06017 (Supposedly what fits 2003~2009 fuel doors for Toyota 4Runner)

I get these dimensions:

 

[slixx1320]

I didn't even bother with rivets on mine. Drilled out both rivets, replaced with a nut/bolt and tightened it down. If it happens once, it'll happen again. It's easier to replace the door by unbolting the nut/bolt then drilling and riveting again.