Gas door won't open when I pull the lever

[ArthurWood]

The gas cap door never had a problem before but today it wouldn't open when I pulled the lever.

I had to get one person to pull the lever as I put a kitchen spatula and it then opened easily.

I looked under the dash with a flashight and the cable is attached and moving slightly when the handle is pulled. The door button moves in and out easy when I press it with my fingers.

Is this a common problem with a commonly known solution?
If the cable is stretched, where might the adjustment lever be?

 

[TheDurk]

The gas cap door never had a problem before but today it wouldn't open when I pulled the lever.

I had to get one person to pull the lever as I put a kitchen spatula and it then opened easily.

I looked under the dash with a flashight and the cable is attached and moving slightly when the handle is pulled. The door button moves in and out easy when I press it with my fingers.

Is this a common problem with a commonly known solution?
If the cable is stretched, where might the adjustment lever be?

Probably broken spring on the door hinge. Easy fix. $4 at the stealer and one minute with a pair of pliers. Mine went last year.

https://parts.conicellitoyotaofconshohocken.com/oem-parts/toyota-fuel-door-spring-773600e010/?c=aT04NDM4NDk3NSZyPTY%3D

 

[aontkos]

Probably broken spring on the door hinge. Easy fix. $4 at the stealer and one minute with a pair of pliers. Mine went last year.

Bingo.

 

[StreetCreeper]

The gas cap door never had a problem before but today it wouldn't open when I pulled the lever.

I had to get one person to pull the lever as I put a kitchen spatula and it then opened easily.

I looked under the dash with a flashight and the cable is attached and moving slightly when the handle is pulled. The door button moves in and out easy when I press it with my fingers.

Is this a common problem with a commonly known solution?
If the cable is stretched, where might the adjustment lever be?

Mine does the same thing. I've replaced the spring (new one) and the door (junk yard) and it still does it about 60% of the time. I'm too lazy to spend any more time on it so I just live with it.

Two simple ways of opening it when it sticks. Either insert a key between the door and the body and give it a "light" pry (not hard enough to bend or scratch things) or you can push on the hinge side of the door while someone else pulls the lever at the same time.

Annoying for sure but not a deal breaker for me.

 

[TheDurk]

Mine does the same thing. I've replaced the spring (new one) and the door (junk yard) and it still does it about 60% of the time. I'm too lazy to spend any more time on it so I just live with it.

Two simple ways of opening it when it sticks. Either insert a key between the door and the body and give it a "light" pry (not hard enough to bend or scratch things) or you can push on the hinge side of the door while someone else pulls the lever at the same time.

Annoying for sure but not a deal breaker for me.

Just bash it with the side of your your fist and it pops open on the bounce. I got good at it before I got my **** together and bought the spring.

 

[StreetCreeper]

Just bash it with the side of your your fist and it pops open on the bounce. I got good at it before I got my **** together and bought the spring.

​

 

[StreetCreeper]

The gas cap door never had a problem before but today it wouldn't open when I pulled the lever.

I had to get one person to pull the lever as I put a kitchen spatula and it then opened easily.

I looked under the dash with a flashight and the cable is attached and moving slightly when the handle is pulled. The door button moves in and out easy when I press it with my fingers.

Is this a common problem with a commonly known solution?
If the cable is stretched, where might the adjustment lever be?

Just bash it with the side of your your fist and it pops open on the bounce. I got good at it before I got my **** together and bought the spring.

Just stopped for fuel. Can now confirm that the Durk/Fonzie method does work.

 

[Amonk1]

I'll have to try the fonzie method. I've been jamming a credit card in there while I pull the lever and hoping it doesn't blow away.

 

[St Runner]

No need to even go to the dealer. Dig around and find a small spring and screw it into the hole. 5years now and it works perfectly

 

[ArthurWood]

Too bad that neat Fonzarelli slap on the gas door doesn't work for me because the lever has to be pulled in so you need two people since the latch pin locks the gascap door closed otherwise.

With two people I watch the latch pin move in and out all the way so the wire mechanism is working from the dash to the gascap door.

I don't see no spring though. Not anywhere. I don't even see where it is sposed to go.

Thanks for nailing the problem exactly just from the description!
I will post followup when I get a new spring from somwhere.

 

[ArthurWood]

Two simple ways of opening it when it sticks. Either insert a key between the door and the body and give it a "light" pry (not hard enough to bend or scratch things) or you can push on the hinge side of the door while someone else pulls the lever at the same time.

Annoying for sure but not a deal breaker for me.

You must still have a spring which is just week.
Mine is totaly gone so it would take two people to open it.

With one person the latch pin prevents prying it open.

 

[chuapieceagum]

I just put a binder clip in there. Works like a charm :cowboy:

 

[ArthurWood]

Found these same storys and a diy when looking for pictures of the missing spring.
Fuel Door Spring Replacement
Fuel Filler Door Part Help
Gas door stuck closed!
Inside the gas door
Door spring

Looks like an easy replacemeth with or without removing the fuel filler door.
Three bucks plus shipping online and five to ten bucks at the dealer.

 

[ArthurWood]

I just put a binder clip in there. Works like a charm :cowboy:

seriously?

Got a pic?

 

[ArthurWood]

I ordered the spring online but while I'm waiting I found the best pic here and this thread says the metal clip breaks somtimes and but other times the plastic base brakes..

 

[ArthurWood]

Some people have the clip broke in half.
Others have the plastic broke.
Some just the clip falls out on the cement floor.

 

[ArthurWood]

I'll have to try the fonzie method. I've been jamming a credit card in there while I pull the lever and hoping it doesn't blow away.

I was an idiot because I was trying the other way and kept losing.

I tried to wedge a stick under the dash lever and then run over to the gas cap with the credit card or do the durks fonzarelli move but it never worked.

It worked when I did it the way you do wich is to wedge the credit card first and then pull up on the handle but lucky I won't need gas until after the new spring arrives.

 

[AntleredRuin]

No no no, here's how you fix the problem.

This just happened to me this morning. I knew there was a reason I put off throwing that old kleenex box away.

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

 

[turbo6shooter]

I used a 2 foot bungee cord to keep the lever up. One side on the lever, the other side on a post for the headrest.

Then I used a card and opened the fuel door.

The clip is cheap from the dealer. Pop the old one off with a screwdriver. Slide on the new one and snap it into place.

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[brillo_76]

I used a 2 foot bungee cord to keep the lever up. One side on the lever, the other side on a post for the headrest.

Then I used a card and opened the fuel door.

The clip is cheap from the dealer. Pop the old one off with a screwdriver. Slide on the new one and snap it into place.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

Correct replace your clip. I used half a ballpoint pen when my snapped and I need a new spring clip

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