Gas lever problems - looking for advice!

solei

solei

Mk3 Specialist wannabe
Feb 4, 2007
44
0
0
40
Sunnyvale, CA
www.tehintarweb.com
Hi guys!

So, I have a problem with my '87. I went to get gas today (thankfully close to home). I pulled up on the gas lever, and the door wouldn't open. I pulled the hell out of it, jiggled it, yanked and applied steady pressure- I even got someone to hold a key prying up on the door while I pulled that lever- no dice.

I had to drive it home, jam a screw driver into the gap and pop it open manually. I removed the plastic piece that latches it closed until I can get this fixed. I own a 1987 Supra TSRM, but there's absolutely nothing in that book about this lever, or the cable it connects to.

My questions:

1. Has anyone had this problem before/heard of it before? I searched the forums and came up blank. Just curious. :3

2. Is there a way to tighten that cable somehow? If so, is it by the lever (under the seat), or at the actual gas door? If it's at the gas door, what panels need to be removed to get to it?

3. As it's been getting more and more steadily loose, I think it's entirely possible the cable is fraying somewhere along the line. What path does that cable take to get from that lever to the gas door?


Thanks for your help in advance- I wish the TSRM had something to clue me in on this one.
 
K

KeithH

New Member
Mar 31, 2005
1,716
0
0
Portland, OR
Remove the cable and replace it with a solenoid - search. This has come up many times and I've even outlined the steps involved in the replacement.
 
akito

akito

Keep Laughing.You're Next
Jul 31, 2006
1,568
0
0
Springfield/Va
This happened to me no too long ago and the problem is still there. Only happens in the cold though, on warm days the lever works fine. Some one on here told me to open the hatch and on the right side of the plastic panel there is a plastic piece that allows access to the antenna. Open and reach in there and reach up, there is a little latch that feels like a number 7, u can press on it and it will open the gas door. First couple of time i had to find that and it toook me awhile, now i can just reach up there and open the gas door real quick. I will fix this when it is warm enough outside
 
solei

solei

Mk3 Specialist wannabe
Feb 4, 2007
44
0
0
40
Sunnyvale, CA
www.tehintarweb.com
IJ.;891987 said:
Wear and tear in the parts over the years means it can't pull it enough to pop the door :(

I shortened the Plastic part that locks it with a Dremel and it works fine now.
Click to expand...
That's a nice and easy way of handling it! I think I'll try replacing the cable, though.

Thanks! :)


KeithH;891996 said:
Remove the cable and replace it with a solenoid - search. This has come up many times and I've even outlined the steps involved in the replacement.
Click to expand...

I searched for a number of things, but didn't return any results. What specifically should I search for to find these threads? I think half the problem is not knowing the technical terms for the gas cap cover flap, the gas lever, and the cable.

akito;892137 said:
This happened to me no too long ago and the problem is still there. Only happens in the cold though, on warm days the lever works fine. Some one on here told me to open the hatch and on the right side of the plastic panel there is a plastic piece that allows access to the antenna. Open and reach in there and reach up, there is a little latch that feels like a number 7, u can press on it and it will open the gas door. First couple of time i had to find that and it toook me awhile, now i can just reach up there and open the gas door real quick. I will fix this when it is warm enough outside
Click to expand...

Aha! This is very useful information. Thank you!
 
M

mv520

New Member
Mar 18, 2007
37
0
0
Midwest
i just got back from trying to pry it open, i scratched my paint off and bent my gas door. finally got it open though, i didnt even get to drive it at all yesterday
 
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