Help required please, the fuel cap doesn’t open when I push it in a bit? The car is unlocked, does anyone know of a fix without damaging anything. Thanks

Has it unlocked? There's a fair few threads on here about stuck actuators. It seems there is no emergency release so its a case of keep locking / unlocking till it frees (possibly while pushing on the flap) or a bit of brute force.

 

There's more if you search for Fuel Flap Actuator but I expect they all say similar.

 

Thanks everyone, I have now realised how to search the forum! I see lots of info on here so will try some of the tips. Just hope it opens, then try some alteration and cleaning to help stop it happening. I may even cut a bit of the flap and just lose the locking feature. Just wondering how does the flap stay closed when the car is unlocked?

Here is an update on my issue. I gave it a good wack whilst unlocking the car and it popped open, perfect. So I cleaned the stem of the actuator and it presses in and rotates really easily now, strangely though when I close flap and lock the car the flap can still be opened? How should it lock, is there like a shoot bolt somewhere? 

23 hours ago, Keencyclist said:

How should it lock, is there like a shoot bolt somewhere? 

No,  the actuator rotates to lock/unlock. Check the plastic on the actual flap for damage (my GF has an Audi A5 with exactly this problem).

Thanks for the reply, it does indeed rotate as you manually push it in. When I keep the flap open and manually push the stem in you can see it has rotated, then if I lock the car I hear a loud buzz but can’t see anything happen. If I then open the stem manually and push the flap closed and lock and unlock the car the flap gets stuck again.So must be the actuator knackered. 

Edited 21 July, 20241 yr by Keencyclist

Is there any preventative maintenance that can be carried out to this mechanism to stop that happening - any parts that need cleaning / greasing etc? 

 

Or is the part just a bit of rubbish design?

28 minutes ago, superluminal said:

Is there any preventative maintenance that can be carried out to this mechanism to stop that happening - any parts that need cleaning / greasing etc? 

 

Or is the part just a bit of rubbish design?

It’s probably a poor design with so many people having the same issue and across the VWA group. I have just ordered a replacement from AliExpress which has the emergency release cord that you feed through into the boot. Be interesting to see if that’s any good. Will update in like 2 weeks. 

Update, bought a new one with emergency pull cord from AliExpress. Easy job to do and works perfect.

just ordered this from aliexpress as i have the same issue, i can deal with having to pull the cord each time if it knacks, but bashing it every time won't last

 

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