Broken fuel door won't open...

[Conover]

Last night when I went to refuel my 1981 911sc euro tubro look ZZZ Porsche the fuel door release broke and now I can not get in to refuel.......How do I get in? Any suggestions short of dismanteling the port side.

[Wil Ferch]

Take a length of dental floss...maybe even double it up...and stretch it across the filler flap facing the rear of the flap...get it to "hook under" the door ...and tug "forward" with one hand on each side of the filler door. It should "catch" the release lever-arm and allow you to open the door.

Report back if it works....


- Wil

[1982911SCTarga]

Dental floss breaks (BTDT). Carry a soft flat cotton shoestring in your toolkit.

Brian

[rusnak]

If the wire broke, then you can grab it with some needle nose pliers, just pull the wire housing out of the way.

If that doesn't work, then there is a allen bolt that holds the latch on. Look on the hinge post of the driver's side door, inside a small round hole. Loosen the bolt, and the latch should come off. Jiggle the lid a little and it should open.

[1982911SCTarga]

Too complex. Follow Wil's directions and use a shoestring. My adventure.

Brian

[Keith Perry]

Go in the fenderwell and release 3 allen bolts. You might have to brush a little mud off them. When the bolts are out, start working it up at the hinge. Go easy, don't pry or chip.

[Conover]

Amazing! It took me longer to find an old tennis shoe with a flat lace than it did to open the fuel door. Brians idea of using the flat shoe lace and Wil's directions on the use of the shoe lace worked without a hitch. I,m sure that the floss or similar would also work. The shoe lace is now under the bonnett. This was my first visit to this forum or any forum........what a great experence. Thanks to all for your concern.

[88-diamondblue]

Conover,

Welcome to the forum and the slippery slope that it starts
Pictures of your car are always welcome on the board.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

I carry an eight-inch length of strong nylon string with finger-loops on each end, in the glovebox. I've never had to use it, but it's there...

[Keith Perry]

This is great. I'm putting a shoelace in the glove compartment today.

[1982911SCTarga]

I carry an eight-inch length of strong nylon string with finger-loops on each end, in the glovebox. I've never had to use it, but it's there...

You're not going to hurt anything by practicing the fuel-door opening trick ahead of the time you might actually need it. As I'm sure Conover will agree, do this once and you'll be a pro at it. It's a great parlor trick for amusing and amazing your Porsche friends.

Brian

[notmytarga]

Curious - Since the number of times a filler door is opened correlates with total chassis mileage -- What is the mileage one can expect their filler door to 'malfunction'? Is it always a matter of the cable (wire actually) breaking?

[1982911SCTarga]

Curious - Since the number of times a filler door is opened correlates with total chassis mileage -- What is the mileage one can expect their filler door to 'malfunction'? Is it always a matter of the cable (wire actually) breaking?

I don't think it's so much a matter of the number of times the fuel door has been opened and closed as it is dirt, dust, rust and age. The cable-fastener hinge point can get dirty, draw moisture and rust. There's a stress riser created where the cable fastener tightens onto the cable and catches the release mechanism. Mine broke right there when I was trying to adjust the pre-load on the fuel door hinge. It didn't leave me with enough extra, so I made up a new pull cable. I also replaced that Peterbilt truck hinge release spring with a softer one. Everything works a treat now, but I still carry my shoestring in my toolkit.

Brian

[randywebb]

Originally posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson
I carry an eight-inch length of strong nylon string with finger-loops on each end, in the glovebox. I've never had to use it, but it's there...

Somebody find that thread on what to alwyas carry in the 911 and add this to it... + directions on what to do.

[svandamme]

nylon string ?!? just get a screw driver in between , push the little mechanisme and done, do dent the paint while you're in there.... or are y'all in to concourse or sometin???

sheesh

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally posted by svandamme
nylon string ?!? just get a screw driver in between , push the little mechanisme and done, do dent the paint while you're in there.... or are y'all in to concourse or sometin???

sheesh

No offesne, but there is a LOT of distance between competing in Concours events and taking a screwdriver to pry open your stuck fuel door! Talk about "sheesh"?

Why would you chip your paint and dent the bodywork....well, ever? ...especially if all it takes is a little piee of string to address this little problem?

[scottb]

Originally posted by Dan in Pasadena
Why would you chip your paint and dent the bodywork....well, ever?

I'm guessing that Stijn's tongue was planted firmly in cheek when he posted his comments.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Hey, he's a tough guy. Sheesh.

[randywebb]

ok, I'll pile on...

there is no 'e' in councours

(there is also no me in concours, but that is a different question)

[RDR911]

I've used a kitchen butter knife (thinner than a screwdriver, so no paint chips). I stlll carry it in my tool kit.