I know this has been discussed, but I just can't find the thread.

I have an 03 V6 S-Type with a fuel door that won't open when the switch on the dash is pressed. There's a release in the trunk, so at least I can get it open!

What's the likely cause, or better yet, what's the best way to trouble-shoot this issue so I can identify the cause and fix it?

Thanks, and sorry for bringing this up again. I'll keep searching in the mean time.

 

I currently have the same problem. I haven't really looked into it but what I've noticed is the little latch that holds the fuel door shut will sometimes get stuck and not move, or barely move.

 

You can try lube the plastic pin that slides back and forth to unlock the gas door.

Mike it doesn't sound like yours is broke yet if your door still closes. As I recall, a broken pin in the gas door actuator will cause the door to stay open.

 

Mike, don't wait for your luck to run out here - get some lithium grease and thoroughly lube the pin and catch/release mechanism while it's still all in one piece. ASAP!

 

Thanks for the warning, but the mechanism moves freely and appears to work properly. However, pressing the button on the dash does nothing.

Is there a fuse I could check?

 

In my '05 STR handbook, it says that fuse F46 in the luggage compartment controls the fuel flap solenoid, the luggage compartment lid and interior lights.

 

If not the fuse I suppose the solenoid or wiring. Access is from inside the boot (trunk).

 

Thanks -- how stupid of me, I didn't think of downloading the handbook and looking in there! Mine also says F46 in the trunk.

UPDATE: Fuse is okay. Now I'll have to figure out how to access the solenoid from the trunk -- I took a quick look. Looks like a typical pain in the rear to get the lining out, but once I figure that out, is the solenoid easy to access?

 

Stopped to get fueled up today and decided to try the dash button -- pushed it about four times and it popped open. I don't know if that helps narrow down the problem, but thought I'd report it to see if anyone has anything to add at this point.

 

Any of: sticking pin/solenoid, dirty button, etc. Or it doesn't like Mondays (ahem) but is OK on a Tues.

 

I was thinking about taking the switch out of the dash first and seeing if a bit of cleaning/blowing will fix it.

If that doesn't work, I was going to remove the trunk liner and see if I can eyeball the solenoid -- can't seem to find anything in JTIS about this. The electrical guide calls it the "fuel filler flap solenoid" or something like that. I searched JTIS for "flap" and didn't find anything that helps -- other than to tell me that the switch on the dash doesn't work if the doors are locked. I'm pretty sure the doors unlock when I remove the key from the ignition, so that shouldn't be the problem, but I'm going to double check.

Maybe it's just "tired." The car is over 10 years old with only 31k miles on it. The last several months it sat without being driven much more than a few miles.

 

I'm not having any luck finding anything about R&R-ing the dash switch or the solenoid in the trunk - I have JTIS and can't find a thing about it. It's called the fuel filler flap but there's no instructions on fixing it, or at least I can't find it.

If you know where it is in JTIS, please clue me in! Thanks!

 

This has been beat to death. Just lube up the release pin. You don't have any problems with the dash switch or the solenoid.

Get someone to push the dash button while you are in the back with the fuel door open. Then start spraying white lithium grease. It might take several applications before if loosens up. You should be able to see the pin move when the dash button is pushed.

Just be careful as several people have broken the plastic pin multiple times and then it seems like they never can get it working properly again.

Prevention is ALWAYS better than repair!!
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If that doesn't work, the solenoid access is by removing the trim inside the boot (trunk) and everything else that's in the way.

 

It's only beaten to death if that's my problem -- I will spray it and see but the latch seems to work just fine when done manually with the release in the trunk and also by visual inspection and manual inspection of the pin.

 

Thanks, I guess I was just hoping to find the JTIS instructions with those nice little drawings. I will try to remove the trunk liner and see what I can find out.

 

I greased it up but good and it still doesn't work. I'll give it another try when I have someone push the dash button for me while I spray the grease on the pin.

 

Old thread but didn't see this... check the fuel release relay in the trunk. Relay R8 - It's smaller than the rest on the 03 s-type. ACDelco F1757 relay seams to be the right one: