I have generally been filling up my 2009 XK with fuel, about every two weeks, sometimes 3. The fuel filler outer door, does not always respond to the first, second or even the 15th button push. Eventually, before I meltdown in full panic, the door opens after the umpteenth button push.

Today it took about 25 attempts.

Oh, and after it finally opens, it will then open with just one push of the fuel door button. My thoughts are that after a period of inactivity, something in the fuel door mechanism becomes problematic.

So, is there any maintenance thing that I can do, to get the button to open the door on less than five pushes?

 

There's a solenoid that moves the release pin upwards:




It should move with finger pressure. If it's sticking, clean and lubricate.

The harness connector is accessible inside the wheelarch after removing the liner:



Check for continuity and again for free movement of the visible part of the pin.

The solenoid isn't listed separately and a replacement filler bowl cost me 82 UKP in 2018.

Graham

 

GGG,

Thanks for the detailed pics and suggestions. I’ll start with cleaning that pin. I have a feeling that it’s sticking from not being activated often.

 

I had this problem also,
I sprayed some "Teflon spray" onto that pin GGG showed in his first picture and is working correctly ever since.

 

Cabrio,

Thanks.

That was going to be my next question, what to lube with. Teflon sounds good.

John

 

I had the very same problem a short time and the culprit turned out to be the little bit of plastic lanyard that holds the fuel cap when you remove it to fill up with fuel. On the day in question it just happened to get caught behind the little pin which is activated by the solenoid and it placed just enough lateral load on the pin to not allow it to release.