Vauxhall Astra -fuel cap won't open

saving123

Hi, all,

Just went to fill up the petrol on my astra and fuel cap won't open. This happened a couple of weeks ago and my husband managed to get it open and I think its to do with the central locking (although the rest of the central locking is working fine). When the car was in for a service they said it was expensive to fix and we would bet better disabling it. Any ideas how to disable it? thanks

OddballJamie

Which year is the Astra?

Before you disable the flap, get yourself a locking petrol cap, otherwise your fuel won't be around for long.

saving123

Its a 2007. Where would I get a locking petrol cap. Would it just be something like this I would need - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-LOCKING-FUEL-PETROL-CAP-ASTRA-CORSA-MERIVA-ZAFIRA-NEW-09117533-102746-/271146381768?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3f219571c8

colino

Doesn't the Astra have a cable in the boot for manually coping with just this problem? Could need the flap actuator cleaned up, try the dreaded WD40 first to save any dismantling, or a cheap swap for a scrappy one.

OddballJamie

I think this is the locking cap
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-OPEL-ASTRA-H-ZAFIRA-B-LOCKING-FUEL-CAP-KEYS-PETROL-DIESEL-NEW-/221243886005?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item338329c9b5

OddballJamie

Colino is right, you can disable it through the boot behind the carpet.
Here's a thread on it.
http://www.vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk/index.php?threads/central-locking-failed-cant-get-petrol-cap-open.160072/

Try unlocking the drivers door manually by turning the key in the door twice as this can unlock the cap too.

saving123

thanks is it quite easy to do? Will ask my husband tonight. So if I just disable it and then buy a new locking cap? thanks

OddballJamie

Fixing it on the cheap would be to disable the lock and add a locking cap.

Personally I'd have a go at fixing it, but then I do like to take stuff apart.

saving123

Is there a chance of doing a lot of damage trying to disable the lock? Do you have any idea what sort of price I would be looking at to get it fixed properly? thanks

Minas_Bryandor

I have just had the same issue running on empty needed petrol, fuel cap wont open as part of the central locking. Looked around was not a good answer other than call vauxhall / warranty repair.

After 3-4 hours of playing around I have managed to get mine open without damaging anything except for the inner part of the fuel cap (but there is good reason).

Couple of things to try first is on the fuel cap side there is an unlockable panel if you look down once this is open (may need a torch) there will be a black wire running from the petrol cap direction as you look at it which has an exposed silver wire coming out of it and going into a white plastic clip which is attached to a black box which is the motor (I believe technically referred to as the solenoid). When you car is unlocked you may be able to simply slide the white clip down the wire away from the petrol cap side which will release the petrol cap. This wont fix it but will let you get petrol to get to a garage or use my later fix.

This did not work for me (as regrettably I tried re-locking at which point it jammed much to my annoyance).

What I managed to do to get mine fixed was the following:
(For this you need 1 x very slim flat headed screw driver of any length, 1 x flat head screwdriver medium thickness and as long as you can have, 1 x serated kitchen knife or hacksaw, 1 x Torch) - CANT STRESS ENOUGH HERE BE GENTLE OTHERWISE YOU WILL BREAK STUFF AND THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED JUST THE WAY I FIXED MINE
1) Run you fingers around the top of the petrol flap, where the black rubber seal is until you are able to get the end of your fingers in enough to create a small gap
2) Slide the very the thin screwdriver into the gap making sure you do not knick the paint (which is why not to use a philips head screwdriver)
3) Once this is in this should give you enough leverage to slide the bigger screwdriver in gently - once this is in pull the thin one out.
4) Now shine your torch in to the left and you will see the metal deadlock/bolt/pin sticking through the hole in the plastic arm which runs from the filler cap to the lock.
5) What you need to do is move the screwdriver head across so the flat head hooks behind this plastic arm and very slowly you need to pull the arm to the right and off the end of the pin at which point the cap will pop open.
6) a) Now you can get petrol in and take to the garage or;
b) What I did - get the kitchen knife and saw a small gap at the end of the plastic arm with the hole in enough for the pin to clip into (do little bits step by step as you can always shave a little more off. This makes the petrol cap fit alot better than it ever has for me before. Only downside of course is it can no longer be locked - but I am ok with this.