gas and hood lever

[RevoRunner]

I've read a few grumbles about placement of the gas and hood lever and I'll admit I've popped my hood by accident once or twice. It's nice of Toyota to color code the levers but I really don't feel like contorting my neck everytime I fill up just to see which lever I'm pulling.

That being said... I know I'm not the first person to do this but I didn't see it posted anywhere so I figured it might be able to benefit some others. I just stuck a clear rubber pad on the gas lever so that when I reach I can go by feel. I would guess you could use a felt pad or any other adhesive that gives a different feel. It's down low so it isn't too obvious.

 

[sharp4runr]

Ahhh, that's a clever idea there. I just remember it is the left hand lever for the gas. If I accidentally hit it, I pretend to just check the windshield washer fluid and oil.

 

[Fourty-four]

That's a good idea, but when I reach down to pull mine, I do it slowly enough to feel the resistance. The hood pull has much more resistance than the gas door pull, so if I feel any resistance, I know right away that I grabbed the wrong pull.

I still don't understand why Toyota didn't put the standard gas door release lever next to the driver's seat.

 

[smokey7722]

I normally just kinda grab both levers and pull the left one. Just a habit for me to feel for both when I need to pull one or the other.

 

[BenSD]

Ahhh, that's a clever idea there. I just remember it is the left hand lever for the gas. If I accidentally hit it, I pretend to just check the windshield washer fluid and oil.

Nice to know I'm not the only one who fakes the fluid check every now and then.

 

[DemBones]

Thanks for the idea....

Ive popped the other in error many a time.

Bones

 

[Thai]

This is one of the few places where the Germans are better. On my old BMW M3 and my current Mercedes, the gas door is automatically lock if you press the lock button on the remote (locking the whole car locks the gas door). And when the vehicle is unlock, the gas door is also unlock. This way, when you pull up to the gas station, you just get out and fill up. No lever or button to push or pull. And when you leave your car and lock the doors, the gas door is locked up.

I am not sure why Toyota/Lexus has not adopted this mechanism.

 

[Jeff Kleb]

Gas Tank Door


Call me old school, but I had at least two cars where the gas cap was mounted behind the rear license plate. It was easy to fill the tank from either side of the car. Now those were the days!
:awais:

I popped the wrong one once or twice, but caught on pretty quickly. As mentioned earlier, it takes more force to open the hood release than it does the fuel filler door; and it is easy to feel for the correct one when you pull up to the pump.

Still, though, I think a better place for the fuel door release is to the left of the driver's seat. My Nissan Sentra has it located there, and it makes sense. But I don't think it matters much in the grand scheme of things. If the worst gripe we have about our 4Runners involves the location of the fuel door relase, I would say that is a very good thing!
:bigok:

 

[Mark86]

That is a good idea. My method is to grab both levers and pull the one on the left. The only time I popped the hood is when the dealer reversed the switches after repairing something under there. Of course, it was at a crowded gas station and everybody saw. I just made sure all of the fluid levels were ok.

 

[spyne]

Ahhh, that's a clever idea there. I just remember it is the left hand lever for the gas. If I accidentally hit it, I pretend to just check the windshield washer fluid and oil.

After the first time or two, I learned to make sure and pull the correct lever. Have to admit I pulled the wrong one a couple of times when I first bought the 4R. Did an oil check myself to save face Might put some felt on the back of the lever this week to save me from any more spontaneous oil checks.

 

[Falls]

Nice tip/idea

 

[pipspeak]

I personally like the position of the lever... since I always forget to pop the gas cap before I get out fo the car, having it somewhere that I can reach through the open window is far more convenient than having to open the door again. I just reach for the closest one.

 

[OUTRNNR]

I personally like the position of the lever... since I always forget to pop the gas cap before I get out fo the car, having it somewhere that I can reach through the open window is far more convenient than having to open the door again. I just reach for the closest one.

I've had the 4Runner for a year now and I still forget to pop the gas door when I fill up. Still a funky location but easy to get to when you're standing outside...

 

[sketch1]

I have to say I have never popped the wrong lever. Granted this is my first car with a Gas lever, so maybe I just don't have it engrained in me to grab for something automatically. If anything I forget to pull anything all together, so I just glance real quick, see black and pull.

 

[Casper]

good idea...


though for the fuel i just pull on the looser one, and for the hood the one with less slack.

 

[JungleJim]

I was surprised by this...

My parents have a Buick LeSabre (I think it's an '05). It doesn't have a locking fuel door. The gas cap doesn't even lock. Like I said, I was very surprised that a modern car didn't offer it (especially at the price they paid for the vehicle...it seems to have every other feature you would ever want). When I questioned my father, he just responded that it was very convenient to not have to worry about remembering to lift a lever prior to getting out.

I'm glad the 4Runner has a locking fuel door and a lever, regardless of the location.

 

[ToyotaDan]

My lever kida of broke. The cable is just sticking out - and I just yank on the cable to open the gas door. I probably should have someone fix it. I tried and it was a pain to try to get the cable back into the place.

 

[abin]

unfortunately,
not everybody can afford a BMW or Mercedes.
Same rule applies in Toyota vehicles. Not everyone can afford a power lock vehicle.

This is one of the few places where the Germans are better. On my old BMW M3 and my current Mercedes, the gas door is automatically lock if you press the lock button on the remote (locking the whole car locks the gas door). And when the vehicle is unlock, the gas door is also unlock. This way, when you pull up to the gas station, you just get out and fill up. No lever or button to push or pull. And when you leave your car and lock the doors, the gas door is locked up.

I am not sure why Toyota/Lexus has not adopted this mechanism.

 

[Thai]

I can't imagine that the German way is that much more expensive. I think that Lexus vehicle is the same as Toyota in this regard.

 

[numba1runna]

nice idea your a thinker