Gas door and cap

[Parks Junkie]

First a bit of a rant, why can't Toyota, and other Japanese Mfrs bring the gas door into the 1970s. You know, a modern design where it automatically locks and unlocks with the car. Instead I have to pull a lever I can't even see to open the door. Every time I start singing the theme to Mickey Mouse. :frusty: Grrrr...

The door. After I pull on the lever I can't see unless I'm on my knees, the door pops open. But flops around, it won't relatch, but it has no spring to hold it open. Is it supposed to be that way? And the door is out of alignment, but I'm not seeing any way to adjust it. Looks like it's riveted in place. Is there a way?

The cap. I remove the cap and stick it in the holder built into the door. And more often than not it just falls out. Again, I've had cars for decades where the cap went into a holder built into the door. But this is the only one where it would regularly fall out. Am I doing something wrong or is it just a lousy design? And the cap has a tether built in, that likes to bind up, with a funky Z bend or two in it. Is that supposed to be like that? Does it serve a purpose?

End of rant. At least this one.:thanks:

 

[AuSeeker]

There's no spring to hold it open, only a small spring so it pops open a little when you pull the release, the gas cap has 2 nubs on the threaded part, the nubs need to be horizonal/left&right when you place it in the door, the nubs catch the metal tabs to keep it there.

If it's not catching when you close it the catch pin/cable may be sticking and needs to be lubricated, if the pin is moving fine then the "tab" on the door it catches on may need to be tweaked a little.

No way to re-align the door (no adjustment) other than to bend the hinge assembly, which could make it worst.

Yes the tether is what it is, no fixing it, if it was straight it would most likely be worst.

 

[Cezar]

My door was mis-aligned and I just man-handled it and now it's aligned.

 

[Parks Junkie]

Arrg, exactly what I feared/expected. Thanks for the feedback regardless.

... I'm looking at .040 stainless wire to form into a hold open spring. Of course I look at a lot of things. But it's got me thinking...

 

[SocalSam]

There is a leaf spring inside the door hinge that is brittle. Could that be the problem? I bet the locking door can be added from Lexus LX470 if it has one. Wiring is easy. The problem will be mounting the door lock actuator.

 

[AuSeeker]

There is a leaf spring inside the door hinge that is brittle. Could that be the problem? I bet the locking door can be added from Lexus LX470 if it has one. Wiring is easy. The problem will be mounting the door lock actuator.

If that spring is broken the door will not pop open when you release it, that's all that spring does is open it enough to be able grab it to open it all the way.

 

[Parks Junkie]

The door does pop open, it sounds like it's working as designed, I'm just dumbfounded by it's design.

 

[SurferUK]

I like it when you get the KTHUNK of the bonnet opening instead... :frusty:

 

[Kevin G.]

Obsessing over such little things is such a waste.

When I catch myself participating in related activities......I'm reminded by old thoughts of my uncle.
"Suck it up......buttercup"??

Kevin

 

[Cezar]

I like it when you get the KTHUNK of the bonnet opening instead... :frusty:

Lol yup.

 

[Parks Junkie]

I like it when you get the KTHUNK of the bonnet opening instead... :frusty:

Oh good, I'm glad its not just me.

Obsessing over such little things is such a waste.

When I catch myself participating in related activities......I'm reminded by old thoughts of my uncle.
"Suck it up......buttercup"??

Kevin

Perhaps, but I like to see good design. Why bother with a gas door at all? A basic locking gas cap would surely be cheaper and simpler.

 

[alia176]

I love the manual lever opening feature of both of my rigs. I'm old fashioned and like manual things. My 1990 Benz has a central locking system using vacuum!! Yeah, I disconnected that feature on my gas tank flap deal. I don't ever want to deal with it when I'm at a gas station. If people wanna suck out my precious gas, they can have it. If I lived in a third world country, maybe that'd be a bigger deal.

I replaced the gas cap with one from NAPA that has the tether on it as the original one broke. The bit about the spring has me curious if mine is just too worn out keep the door open. I didn't know I even had one!

 

[AuSeeker]

I love the manual lever opening feature of both of my rigs. I'm old fashioned and like manual things. My 1990 Benz has a central locking system using vacuum!! Yeah, I disconnected that feature on my gas tank flap deal. I don't ever want to deal with it when I'm at a gas station. If people wanna suck out my precious gas, they can have it. If I lived in a third world country, maybe that'd be a bigger deal.

I replaced the gas cap with one from NAPA that has the tether on it as the original one broke. The bit about the spring has me curious if mine is just too worn out keep the door open. I didn't know I even had one!

4th Gen T4Rs don't have a spring that keeps the gas door opened all the way, it only has a small piece of spring steel on the hinge that "pops" the door open only enough for you to get a finger on it to open it all the way.

 

[Berty_K]

Just replace the door if you're having issues.

Drill out the rivets with a step bit, pop in two m6 rivet nuts, install new door and you're good to go.