Notices
Maintenance & Repair 350Z up keep and diagnosing/fixing problems

350z fuel door wont open.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-25-2015, 11:02 PM
  #1  
jonny992
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
jonny992's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: ontario
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default 350z fuel door wont open.

the latch is stuck I think, the flap wont open and im almost on empty. need help asap!!

in the pass I always have to press the button a few times. now its completely stuck. never had this problem before even when it was -20
Old 02-26-2015, 12:23 AM
  #2  
Jennifer 2
Registered User
 
Jennifer 2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Vancouver B C
Posts: 1,247
Likes: 0
Received 31 Likes on 20 Posts
Default

Since you have had to press the release button multiple times in the past to get the door to open, the best guess would be that the actuator is working, but the door spring is sticking. Stand by the door and have someone press and hold the button. You will hear a click from the door actuator; use your finger or a credit card to gently pop open the door. Look at the plastic arm of the hinge, note how a flat leaf style spring is compressed and slides along the plastic arm to pop open the door. Clean this area and apply some lightweight silicone grease along the plastic arm where the spring contacts it. This made my early model Z’s door behave. There is a stronger spring (your 08 should have this spring) available but I didn’t get it as the lubrication worked so well. If silicone grease (some auto parts stores sell it as dielectric grease) isn’t handy, ask your mom or older sister for a dab of their silicone sex lube, as it will do in a pinch.

If the actuator isn’t clicking, you will have to check fuses and troubleshoot the electrics. If you remove a lot of side trim pieces in the trunk area, you can get at the actuator to remove and test. To open the fuel door there is a white hook on the actuator, pull it and it will release the door latch.
Old 02-26-2015, 11:33 AM
  #3  
jonny992
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
jonny992's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: ontario
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Jennifer 2
Since you have had to press the release button multiple times in the past to get the door to open, the best guess would be that the actuator is working, but the door spring is sticking. Stand by the door and have someone press and hold the button. You will hear a click from the door actuator; use your finger or a credit card to gently pop open the door. Look at the plastic arm of the hinge, note how a flat leaf style spring is compressed and slides along the plastic arm to pop open the door. Clean this area and apply some lightweight silicone grease along the plastic arm where the spring contacts it. This made my early model Z’s door behave. There is a stronger spring (your 08 should have this spring) available but I didn’t get it as the lubrication worked so well. If silicone grease (some auto parts stores sell it as dielectric grease) isn’t handy, ask your mom or older sister for a dab of their silicone sex lube, as it will do in a pinch.

If the actuator isn’t clicking, you will have to check fuses and troubleshoot the electrics. If you remove a lot of side trim pieces in the trunk area, you can get at the actuator to remove and test. To open the fuel door there is a white hook on the actuator, pull it and it will release the door latch.

thxs I just poured a bucket of hot water n fixed it. no need for silicone sex lube
Old 02-26-2015, 12:16 PM
  #4  
dkmura
General & DIY Moderator
MY350Z.COM
iTrader: (64)
 
dkmura's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Aurora, Colorado
Posts: 8,359
Received 1,292 Likes on 896 Posts
Default

If the electric release will not function at all, there's still a way to manually get to the release. You'll need to get behind the interior panel on the side the fuel door is at. Usually, you have to pull both the rear panel (where the trunk latch is) and then the side panel to reach the release. If you can find it, It's a black rectangular plastic panel and there is a white tab sticking out the back end. Pull that white tab and the fuel door will release.
Old 02-26-2015, 12:34 PM
  #5  
Jennifer 2
Registered User
 
Jennifer 2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Vancouver B C
Posts: 1,247
Likes: 0
Received 31 Likes on 20 Posts
Default

Jonny992, you have to realize the difference between treating symptoms and fixing problems. Cleaning and lubricating the fuel door hinge/spring is a maintenance item that should be preformed every few years on a Z, because that fuel door design is a bit substandard. And that’s using the kindest language I can think of.

Cars nowadays are full of plastic parts that may stick, squeak and operate roughly. Petroleum based lubricants are not well suited for plastic. Buy a small tube of silicone grease for use on the myriad of plastic and rubber parts in your car.
Old 02-26-2015, 04:41 PM
  #6  
bealljk
350Z-holic
iTrader: (13)
 
bealljk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: North Denver
Posts: 6,358
Received 1,282 Likes on 1,007 Posts
Default

+1 to DK, there is a manual release but you have to remove the truck interior pieces to access...I'll post a pic...
Old 09-26-2019, 12:57 PM
  #7  
JnBZ
New Member
 
JnBZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Egg Harbor Twp, NJ
Posts: 25
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Yup...spray lithium grease. Works fine.
Old 09-26-2019, 01:04 PM
  #8  
travlee
Master
iTrader: (8)
 
travlee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 48,613
Received 9,049 Likes on 6,515 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by JnBZ
Yup...spray lithium grease. Works fine.
4.5 years later......
The following users liked this post:
masterjr33 (09-27-2019)
Old 09-26-2019, 04:29 PM
  #9  
JnBZ
New Member
 
JnBZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Egg Harbor Twp, NJ
Posts: 25
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by travlee
4.5 years later......
Phuckoff, moron. What’s your problem? Tinypenis? Mommy tell you to get back in the basement?
Old 09-26-2019, 05:22 PM
  #10  
travlee
Master
iTrader: (8)
 
travlee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 48,613
Received 9,049 Likes on 6,515 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by JnBZ
Phuckoff, moron. What’s your problem? Tinypenis? Mommy tell you to get back in the basement?
Says the idiot with personal attacks
The following users liked this post:
masterjr33 (09-27-2019)
Old 09-26-2019, 06:17 PM
  #11  
JnBZ
New Member
 
JnBZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Egg Harbor Twp, NJ
Posts: 25
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by travlee
Says the idiot with personal attacks
O...M...G! You do live in the basement... 38,000+ posts. Get a life.
Old 09-27-2019, 02:47 AM
  #12  
travlee
Master
iTrader: (8)
 
travlee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 48,613
Received 9,049 Likes on 6,515 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by JnBZ
O...M...G! You do live in the basement... 38,000+ posts. Get a life.
you have a short fuse, prob because of other shortcomings you have.... not to mention you live in the ne, so you are most guaranteed to be a complete jersey shore type **** waffle

some fun facts for ya little boy, there are not many basements in texas due to the high clay content of the soil

now lay off the mountain dew and doritos while watching your furry ****, and you might want to cut back the roids some..... you have anger issues
Old 09-27-2019, 02:49 AM
  #13  
travlee
Master
iTrader: (8)
 
travlee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 48,613
Received 9,049 Likes on 6,515 Posts
Default

and if you really are 71, you are a sad sad old man



Old 09-27-2019, 04:55 AM
  #14  
masterjr33
New Member
 
masterjr33's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: FL
Posts: 174
Received 54 Likes on 41 Posts
Default

jersey boy is a tard..
Old 09-27-2019, 05:11 AM
  #15  
travlee
Master
iTrader: (8)
 
travlee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 48,613
Received 9,049 Likes on 6,515 Posts
Default

i dont know why he went full retard...
Old 06-06-2023, 05:38 AM
  #16  
Heel Til I Die
New Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Heel Til I Die's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 3,252
Received 1,063 Likes on 751 Posts
Default

My fuel door was sticking and came across this thread.

And then I lol'd at the above posts.

Worthy of a dead thread bump.

Now I'm craving some Mountain Dew and Doritos for some reason.
Old 06-11-2023, 05:41 AM
  #17  
Escobar
New Member
iTrader: (27)
 
Escobar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: £ã§† CØç† œ
Posts: 3,505
Received 149 Likes on 123 Posts
Default

amazing content here, I just learned how to lube my door and that there are no basements in texas due to soil.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
xz350zx
2003-2009 Nissan 350Z
3
03-21-2014 05:57 PM
SirZaLot
Maintenance & Repair
9
07-31-2009 11:51 AM
thr33fiftyzee
Exterior & Interior
9
04-05-2008 08:18 AM
tiki240
Maintenance & Repair
6
03-29-2007 12:56 PM
SweatyPalm
2003-2009 Nissan 350Z
36
10-30-2003 08:41 PM



Quick Reply: 350z fuel door wont open.



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 12:29 PM.