looneyde

Hi guys. I recently purchased a 1992 SC300 5 Speed and am having some trouble with the fuel door release. I can't get the fuel door to pop open. When you pull the fuel release inside the car, the plunger retracts but the door doesn't open. Putting gas in my car is now a 2-person job. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Here are some pics of my fuel door and plunger. I don't really know if something is missing or what.

Pic of plunger.
http://entertainment.webshots.com/ph...63364368gwIqPP

Pic of plastic piece plunger sets in.
http://entertainment.webshots.com/ph...63364368WdZDmb

Thanks for the help!!

Devin

poser714

I really couldnt tell from the pics, but in the second pic of the gas door, if you look to the left of the "premium unleaded fuel only" sign there should be a "L" shaped clip that slides in the that spot. That clip should be your problem if you dont have one there.

0l33l

iTrader: (3)

The SCs have a plastic fuel door. From the second pic, it looks like someone decided to glue it after it broke. When I got my car, the previous owner was a bit of an engineer I guess, and he decided to take off the spring and the little thing on the door that holds it closed. So I didn't have to press any buttons to get to the fuel.

aliga

iTrader: (147)

it can two things the plunger solenoid or the switch, and your lid has been glued as well.

i have all threee, let me know what you need.

Lexicon1

From your post, sounds like the plunger slightly retracts.
1) spray inside of hinge with teflon spray, make sure its very easy to move.
2) looks like your car has been painted and the painter painted your plunger, making it thicker and harder to retract. Remove plunger , strip the paint,(maybe with paint stripper) DONT get it inside the plunger mechanism. THEN when clean, spray with teflon spray.
3) lube the door tab that comes in contact with plunger.

-overall, the paint and perhaps poor glue job may have made the door more difficult to move so it does not snap out like it should.
-is there some spring that someone mentioned that helps push out the door?

I Dont have my car here to check.

Let us know what you found.

JohnEd

iTrader: (1)

Aliga has your fix. He always does.

On a different problem you are headed for: That little plunger of yours is painted red. It should be "brass" and clean. Mine was only dirty and it didn't like to close easily when contacted by the beveled surface of the latch on the door. Mine wore a very deel grove in the latch and was very hard to push closed. I solved this problem with some silicone spray lube shot into the pin. Mine closes easily but I still have a great big groove in that latch.

Were I u I would try to get that paint stripped and get some lube in the pin socket.

Great post with the pics and all. That made your fix an expedited certainty.

John

poser714

yea the "L" shaped clip that slides into the gas door is like a spring its made to flex and put tension on the gas door when you close it. once you pull the handle to open the gas door the plunger releases and the gas door pops open cause of the clip. everything mentioned could be the problem but I know for a fact that if you do not have that clip the door will not pop open.

SimplyZBes

iTrader: (1)

The guy above my post is right. It is a little clip that springs the fuel door open. Try getting another fuel door all together, maybe you can find a matching colored one.

JohnEd

iTrader: (1)

Lex has all of those little parts and springs. Reasonable. You don't need to buy a door.

Clean and lube that pin.

John