Fuel Cap opening

[littlebrooklyn]

Was going to the park to walk Daisy the dog earlier this afternoon, I unlocked the car and got in and when Keith got in he noticed the Fuel Cap thing was open. Closed it, drove to the park, got out the car, locked it, flipping thing came open again. Walked round the park, got back to the car, opened the car, it opened again. Got back home and parked the car and totally perplexed as to why it's doing that. Have a stupid message on the dash telling me it's open, wish it would also tell me how to fix it!

 

[Wighty]

Spray some lube on the catch and the little locking plunger as well , see how that goes

 

[Srdl]

The locking plunger obviously keeps it closed when it’s locked and seems to be withdrawing when you unlock the car. So what is it that normally holds the flap closed when the car is unlocked? I’ll try to have a look at mine when it’s light tomorrow but it may be different on the GLC.

 

[Chrishazle]

On mine, when the car is locked the flap is locked. When you unlock the car the flap stays closed until you give s lillte push on the non-hinge end of the flap, then it opens, so part of the locking system must be a push to release thing that only releases the flap when the car is unlocked. Makes me think a spray of penetrating stuff insside the non-hinge side of the opening might do some good.

 

[littlebrooklyn]

Thanks for your replies. Well he has sprayed some WD40 on it but it's still doing it. Driving down the bypass with the stupid thing open you do feel a bit of an idiot. I think he's going to try taking it apart and see if there is anything obvious wrong. You can buy a new bit for it so not sure if he will go down that road. The flap does lock when the car is locked but obviously something is amiss because it seems as soon as you do something like even open a window the flipping thing flies open!

 

[Srdl]

Thanks for your replies. Well he has sprayed some WD40 on it but it's still doing it. Driving down the bypass with the stupid thing open you do feel a bit of an idiot. I think he's going to try taking it apart and see if there is anything obvious wrong. You can buy a new bit for it so not sure if he will go down that road. The flap does lock when the car is locked but obviously something is amiss because it seems as soon as you do something like even open a window the flipping thing flies open!

Yours is probably different to mine but I've just had a look. There is a pin which is what the flap pushes against when you press it to open. Underneath the pin, there is a spring loaded latch which clicks down when the flap is being closed and then springs up again to hold it closed.

 

[littlebrooklyn]

Keith has taken it out, there is some kind of manual override on the back. He has lubricated it and put it back in, so will see how it goes. This is what it looks like

 

[Big Cheese]

The same thing is happening on my daughters a180,fuel flap actuator will be the problem,relativley cheap to replace.

 

[joderest]

I have to ask, why is such a simple thing so over engineered.
In essence its it's a cap.

 

[EmilysDad]

I have to ask, why is such a simple thing so over engineered.
In essence its it's a cap.

It's not. There's a flap with a loop in the back of it that a pin goes through to lock it.

 

[littlebrooklyn]

The same thing is happening on my daughters a180,fuel flap actuator will be the problem,relativley cheap to replace.

I think we found them for £40 if you do it yourself, can you imagine how much MB would charge

 

[joderest]

What I mean is, it's a cap over a hole where you put fuel. Why does it have to auto open?
And what happened to the good old fashioned locking petrol cap ?
Surly someone can see my point.

 

[EmilysDad]

What I mean is, it's a cap over a hole where you put fuel. Why does it have to auto open?
And what happened to the good old fashioned locking petrol cap ?
Surly someone can see my point.

Plenty of 'also ran' cars have a similar set up ... my Astra G had similar, though EmilysMum's Citroen has a good old fashioned locking cap that you can't leave on the pump after you've filled up as the key won't come out unless it's locked onto the tank