Fuel Tank Door Problem
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 595
Likes: 1
From: Columbus Ohio
Fuel Tank Door Problem
A minor problem just came up w/ my C5. Earlier this week, I placed a locking gas cap on the fuel port. Little did I know, that this was not needed to stop never-do-wells from messing with the contents of my gas tank. I was going to fuel-up and wash the Vette, for my Saturday at the Mid-Ohio American Le Mans event. The gas port door would not open!!! 
After returning home, I got out my owner’s manual. Before consulting the manual, I popped the rear hatch. On the left rear side I saw a yellow handle on a steel cable. “Wonder if this would open the gas port door?, thought I” And IT did!!! YEA, TEAM!!!
I went back and topped-off the gas tank. Then, I washed my ride.
The owner’s manual (after returning home) suggested that a fuse in the forward dash fuse box [under the floor carpet of the passenger’s seat] might be the source of my minor problem. Fuse #32, FUEL TANK DOOR: pp. 5-95. Would that be correct, my friends?? Any other suggestions? This never happened before….
Thanks,
Gburg
After returning home, I got out my owner’s manual. Before consulting the manual, I popped the rear hatch. On the left rear side I saw a yellow handle on a steel cable. “Wonder if this would open the gas port door?, thought I” And IT did!!! YEA, TEAM!!!
I went back and topped-off the gas tank. Then, I washed my ride.The owner’s manual (after returning home) suggested that a fuse in the forward dash fuse box [under the floor carpet of the passenger’s seat] might be the source of my minor problem. Fuse #32, FUEL TANK DOOR: pp. 5-95. Would that be correct, my friends?? Any other suggestions? This never happened before….
Thanks,
Gburg
Tech Contributor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,924
Likes: 78
From: Forney Texas
When you push the button, you didn't hear the solenoid click? If your cap was possibly tall enough to add tension to the release, this may have caused it. If the solenoid doesn't click, the first thing to check is the fuse then the switch then the solenoid.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 595
Likes: 1
From: Columbus Ohio
I believe that I did hear the solenoid click. Hmmm.... Eckler's said that the gas cap was for the 2004 C5 (Corvette Gas Cap, Lockin Part# 51647 $13.49 $13.49 g, 1997-2008 ). Hope I still have my packing slip. I do have my Eckler's email confirmation. Perhaps it was the fuel cap plus the fuel port bib, over the nozzle port? The fuel port bib might just be thick enough to prevent the locking cap from seating correctly. Something else for me to check-out.
Gburg
Last edited by Gburg; Jul 16, 2008 at 01:32 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 30
From: San Rafael CA
Locking gas caps are generally a bad idea. All they do is cause the thieves to DESTROY your fuel filler system tearing the locking gas cap off. Instead of losing, say, $80.00 in gasoline .... you loose the $80.00 AND have hundreds (sometimes thousands) of dollars in damage to the vehicle.
Return it .....
Return it .....
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 348
Likes: 6
From: Las vegas Nevada
Locking gas Caps
While I would agree with BlackZ06 I had an experience with a Fuel thief that got under my skin and the Locking cap solved the problem. My wife also prevented me from going to the big house because I was prepped to pump two rounds into the jerk when I cornered the fool. Instead of a confrontation, I put a locking cap on. The Thief when to my neighbors house and started to steal his gas. Well, We were prepaid for him with a cocktail in his Jerry cans. We got even!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 595
Likes: 1
From: Columbus Ohio
Well... this evening when I returned home, I placed the original gas cap back on the fill pipe. Now, the fuel tank door pops-open normally when, I press the release button, in the center console. I am surprized that an Eckler part did not fit as advertised. Guess I will send it back. I do not know of any gas thiefs around me anyway. I always park in my garage. I never park in a dark, lonely location either. Chances are slim that anything will ever happen to the C5. My Dodge Charger's gas tank door just flips open with a single finger. I will keep a locking gas cap on the Charger, as it is my daily driver. I ordered both locking gas caps on the same day. Thanks guys!!!
Gburg
Gburg
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 595
Likes: 1
From: Columbus Ohio
While I would agree with BlackZ06 I had an experience with a Fuel thief that got under my skin and the Locking cap solved the problem. My wife also prevented me from going to the big house because I was prepped to pump two rounds into the jerk when I cornered the fool. Instead of a confrontation, I put a locking cap on. The Thief when to my neighbors house and started to steal his gas. Well, We were prepaid for him with a cocktail in his Jerry cans. We got even!
Gburg
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 348
Likes: 6
From: Las vegas Nevada
sugar and lots of it!
Actually, this was years ago and I didn’t have a Corvette, I had a Ford Truck. My Neighbor had a C5 Jeep at the time. He put a locking Cap on his main tank and left the side (Jerry) Cans unprotected. Kind-of like bait! The Thief took the gas and never returned. HaHaHa!
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