S1 petrol cap won't come off... help!

[jamiey]

Just got my car back from Ali's and was planning a run to Tyndrum.

Went to fill up, put the key in the lock turned it... the cap still spins...

Tried both sets of keys no joy, the key goes in and turns and the body the filler just spins...

It's the original turned aluminum type and the hasn't been filled for months so I'm hoping this is WD40 job...

Anyone have this before or have any ideas or suggestions...

[tut]

Normal routine is to turn the key to the right, then back to the left, pull it out and open.

Try turning the key to the right then opening with the key still in.

tut

[jamiey]

Thanks tut.

OK, tried that (and put some WD40 in the lock for good measure).

Turned to the right, the body the cap still spins, turned left, still spins. I left the key in (I usually do) and no joy.

How can I get it off...

[Jacobite]

Its 1/4 turn clockwise then 1/4 turn anti clockwise and remove the key
you usually can here the cap hiss as fuel vapour is released after the first 1/4 turn,although mine doesnt lae you take they key out and can be a PITA at times, wouldnt be the first time I'd had to drive off with the fuel key still in the da** thing, sorry cant more help than that
its a Jeep part

http://wiki.seloc.org/a/Petrol_Cap

[jamiey]

I've had this thing for 4 years and occasionally the cap has played silly beggars, but never like this. It's like the barrel will accept the key and turn but it doesn't actually do anything.

I'll ring Ali in the morning to see if he has any ideas.

Thank crap it's claiming the high teens at the moment and I was just going to brim it for the weekend instead of on the REFILL stage.

[robin]

Is the lock barrel turning relative to the cap (i.e. is the whole cap turning or just the key). I am assuming the lock barrel is turning 90 degrees relative to the cap. Once the lock is turned 90 degrees clockwise it should lock out the torque slip ratchet mechanism (the thing that stops you over tightening it) - it sounds like yours isn't - unfortunately this means the cap won't screw off. I would try leaving the key rotated 90 clockwise then spin the cap and tap it with a rubber faced hammer to avoid damaging the cap. You may shock the mechanism back into locking. Once it's locked you can unscrew the cap. When tightening, don't tighten so tight as to engage the torque ratchet thingmy and order a new cap. The cap will come off with weapons of mass destruction too, if required, but best avoided as (a) you might slip and damage the clam and (b) you will get shrapnel into the tank.

Cheers,
Robin

[jamiey]

That's exactly the symptoms. I'll have a try on my way to work.

[jamiey]

Is the lock barrel turning relative to the cap (i.e. is the whole cap turning or just the key). I am assuming the lock barrel is turning 90 degrees relative to the cap. Once the lock is turned 90 degrees clockwise it should lock out the torque slip ratchet mechanism (the thing that stops you over tightening it) - it sounds like yours isn't - unfortunately this means the cap won't screw off. I would try leaving the key rotated 90 clockwise then spin the cap and tap it with a rubber faced hammer to avoid damaging the cap. You may shock the mechanism back into locking. Once it's locked you can unscrew the cap. When tightening, don't tighten so tight as to engage the torque ratchet thingmy and order a new cap. The cap will come off with weapons of mass destruction too, if required, but best avoided as (a) you might slip and damage the clam and (b) you will get shrapnel into the tank.

Cheers,
Robin

Thanks again for your help.

Tried using the rubberised back of a pair of pliers (don't have a rubber hammer to hand - yet) no joy.

How violent should I be?

I was just gentle tapping this morning.

[tut]

Jamie

Also try pushing quite hard against it as you turn.

tut

[jamiey]

Thanks tut.

I was pressing quite firmly last night, but I'll try again tonight when I get home from work (drat walking to work I can't try at lunch).

Also found this from MLOC http://www.midlandslotus.co.uk/forum/in ... owtopic=70 where the suggested solution was found form BCBBS was

Sooty, Lancs
Peter,

I had a cap like that a while ago. It had no key with it so I had one cut and then found that all I needed to do was to push the keyhole into the cap without a key in it, and it would unlock and unscrew off."

I'm not sure how/if that would work.

[Baggy]

I'm not sure but if it's spinning all the time it sounds like what has happened is the same as what happened to mine which was that the glue which holds the aluminium cover onto the standard jeep locking cap has failed allowing the aluminium to freely rotate over the plastic cap.

With mine i put the key in the lock, turned it to the undo position (which actually locks out the ratchet) and then "very fookin carefully" grabbed the key with a pair of pliers and used the key to unscrew the cap. Thing is that it shouldn't take too much because there is a ratchet in the mechanism to stop you tightening it up too much.

Once you have it off, you have to partially dismantle the cap enough to allow you to shove a bunch of araldite into the gap between the plastic cap and the ally cover to re fix it.

Good luck

[jamiey]

Thanks I have a feeling I'll need luck.

So to confirm turn the key 90 degrees clockwise to unlock and then use it to turn the cap anticockwise?


Sorry for being thick but unlocking the petrol cap is one of those things I don't even think about...

[jamiey]

Ok I've tried turning the key to unlock (clockwise) and then turning anticlockwise with a set of pliers.

The barrel just spins backwards.

Tried turning 90 deg to unlock and then turn the alu surround anticlockwise applying pressure to it, but it's just slipping.

It's mad, there must be a way to get it off.

I mean what happens if a key snaps in the lock or both sets of keys are lost?

[robin]

Jamie, if you want to bring it round for some proper abuse, give me a shout on 07973 391 393 - I'm just out of town on the Queensferry Road.

Cheers,
Robin

[jamiey]

Cheers.

I may take you up on that.

Jamie