Gas tank door keeps flapping about

[ryanmackk]

I honestly don't know what happened here, but I bought a used Mazda3 and the gas tank door won't close and open properly. The mechanism is broken and on speed bumps the door flaps and makes noises lolol. It's like there is a component missing from the gas tank filler area. The gas door lever inside the car doesn't do anything, there is no feeling in it, just broken.

http://i.imgur.com/0NGI4lx.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/oquBY9v.jpg

Possible solution? I'm thinking making some sort of manual mechanism where you can just simply push in and the door comes open (oh the good ol' days)

[silverstarmazda]

that black tab you see in the first picture. bend it out a bit. this is too keep a constant pressure on the door when closed so it doesnt rattle around

EDIT: just realized you said it wont open/close. seems like theres something seized or snapped (cable or pin). in your case it looks to be the pin has snapped off (center of the bolt)

[ryanmackk]

that black tab you see in the first picture. bend it out a bit. this is too keep a constant pressure on the door when closed so it doesnt rattle around

EDIT: just realized you said it wont open/close. seems like theres something seized or snapped (cable or pin). in your case it looks to be the pin has snapped off (center of the bolt)

Hmm... what's it supposed to look like? It's such a silly problem to have lol. I wonder how much to repair at Mazda...probably $145/hour for labour lol.

[Johns 08 3 GT]

The pin that holds the gas door shut is sticking or broken. Its cheap to replace. $30 for the part. ( P/N B095-56-890F at the dealer)

[ryanmackk]

The pin that holds the gas door shut is sticking or broken. Its cheap to replace. $30 for the part. ( P/N B095-56-890F at the dealer)

Cheers

[Chrisinski]

Check out getting an entire assembly at the pickers? Probably cheaper.

[Johns 08 3 GT]

Check out getting an entire assembly at the pickers? Probably cheaper.

and probably in the same condition. ;)

[ryanmackk]

Check out getting an entire assembly at the pickers? Probably cheaper.

Top tip, thanks Chris

[RobertL]

Looks like it might just be stuck inside. It's a springy thing that normally retracts when you pull the release lever and then the black tab pops the door out. Maybe give it a shot of some sort of lubricant (WD40? not sure what would work there since it's plastic) and give it a couple of pokes. Might unstick itself. Mine did that once and I just poked it a bit until it popped back out and gave it a clean.

[ryanmackk]

Looks like it might just be stuck inside. It's a springy thing that normally retracts when you pull the release lever and then the black tab pops the door out. Maybe give it a shot of some sort of lubricant (WD40? not sure what would work there since it's plastic) and give it a couple of pokes. Might unstick itself. Mine did that once and I just poked it a bit until it popped back out and gave it a clean.

Mr Wilson posted a pic of his filler area the other day. It looks like my tab fully broke off, the one you release from inside the cabin so it looks like I will have to get a whole new assembly. Or fabricate a mechanism myself...

[ryanmackk]

Kk. So I've fixed it. My dad told me to take it apart and look at it and when I did the metal ring around the plastic tab was all rusted and so the tab was pulled in and got stuck in the metal assembly. Quick fix really. I ground off all the rust and greased up the plastic slider and now it works like it should!