HELP: Fuel Door.

[TurboJoe]

Last night, pulling into a gas station, sitting right on a 1/4 tank, I pull on my fuel door latch and its gives no resistance and doesnt open the door. Im guessing its a cable somewhere, and there is nothing in Haynes, and one post on here that has the same problem. I tried accessing it from the trunk, but theres no way I can reach, and I pulled a bit of my carpet up by the latch, but in such good condition, I'd rather not pull it up anymore. I cannot find any other way to get to a cable. I tried sticking a screwdriver in the door to see if i could pry/unlatch it, didn't work.

Anyone else have this problem or a suggestion for a solution?
I can't drive my car ('89 Turbo) until I get this open.

Thanks! :1zhelp:

 

[IJ.]

Have a friend lightly push the door in while you pull the release and see if it opens.

 

[hvyman]

door spring. mine does that every once in a while i just pry on it a tad with the key and it pops right open.

 

[TurboJoe]

Yeah, I just pulled and had my buddy stick his pinky to pull on it. So everythings still connected inbetween if its just the spring? Is that [easily] replaceable?

Thanks!

 

[IJ.]

More likely cable stretch, I trimmed the plastic plunger with a dremel.

 

[RazoE]

you can reach in from the access panel in the trunk, and pull it, but it's not an easy squeeze, hope you have skinny hands...

 

[jugodegolf]

Have a friend lightly push the door in while you pull the release and see if it opens.

Good to know.

door spring. mine does that every once in a while i just pry on it a tad with the key and it pops right open.

Just lubricate it. Forcing is rarely fun.:naughty:

Yeah, I just pulled and had my buddy stick his pinky to pull on it. So everythings still connected inbetween if its just the spring? Is that [easily] replaceable?

Thanks!

Try some WD40. and do the rear hatch also. I just did this on my new/old car.

 

[akito]

Happens once in a while in cold weather. i usually just open the hatch, reach up the little door and press ( what feels like is a number 7 thingy) Of course i do have skinny arm

 

[closetnerd]

More likely cable stretch, I trimmed the plastic plunger with a dremel.

I did the same. Since one of my hinges are broken, my door likes to sit comfortably jammed flushed with the body. So after pulling the latch and pushing it in some, and THEN pulling the latch a second time, it pops open.

As for the door jamming, the first time I just pulled the latch from behind the gas lid from inside the car. My car is stripped, so no carpet/panels to baby.

 

[ForcedTorque]

I had a plunger break off. Replacing the mechanism is NOT easy! You have to work it onto the cable, while you can't see a bit of your arm. Not impossible, but aggravating as hell. Be careful not to take too much off of the plunger. I'd hate to see you have to replace it.

 

[Fubar231]

Mine hasn't opened since a few days after i bought my car over two years ago. I just pop the hatch, and stick my arm through the access panel for the antenna/fuel door and push the lever/mechanism that opens the door with my thumb.

Works for me.