salimshah

I almost got into trouble today. Luckily, wife was with me and with her assistance we dodged the bullet.

Drove up to a gas pump and pulled the release, but the lid did not pop open. Did that couple of times, but nothing happened. Asked my wife to hold the release while I jiggled the lid.Pulled the lid at the corner with finger nails and the door opened.

I verified that the lock pin moves without fail. Found that the metal spring (close to the hinge) was missing.


Please check the spring (v-shaped) is securely attached to your gas lid. Seems like an old age problem.

Salim

kalali

Thanks for sharing.

VegasRX300

Apparently the spring broke on my RX300 before I bought it. But it looks like no one was there to hold up the release and they broke the nipple on the cable to open the gas door. Instead of just a $5 gas door spring on eBay, I had to buy a complete cable plus the $5 spring. I still need to replace the cable & spring, for now I have a magnet holding the gas door closed and I just push on the lid to open it until I get around to taking apart the interior to replace the cable.
If anyone has replaced the gas door cable before, please give any heads up on how to make it easier.

matts6887

Thanks for the heads up on this one Salim!

Lexmus

My gas door mostly works fine, but every once in a while it will not pop open. I find if f I then press on the gas door near the latch, it typically will pop open on the next attempt. Not sure what pressing the door is doing to temporarily fix the mechanism.

salimshah

First flip the lid open.

Have some one pull the release lever and watch the lock pin move in. On a full pull the pin should fully retract. This check confirms the release is working properly.

Next item to check is the spring push off. This is the 'V' shaped metal in the middle near the hinge end. Make sure it is not loose and has a bounce. Use silicone spray or wd40 to clean and lubricate the hinge. Little goes a long way and a lot attracts dirt and grime.

If the spring is bad, get a new one .. roughly around $7. If you try to spread the 'V' to get more push, you will most likely break (if not surely make it weak).

Dont risk being unable to put in gas.

Salim