Fuel flap sticking on mk2.5

[Shotgun Rider]

The chrome fuel flap on my 2002 MX5 has been sticking shut for months now, I can usually get it to open by jamming something under the release flap and using a credit card to lift the flap itself. Unfortunately I am in the bad books right now as Mrs Shotgun Rider is 20 miles away and has just phoned me to complain that she can't get the fuel flap open!

I think that the problem is the flap sticking to the rubber stoppers. I've read online about redesigned stoppers which stops this happening, are there any other fixes out there for this?

[gforceg]

[seany87]

I had one that had started to corrode underneath and swelled a bit. Its worth taking it off, greasing the hinge and sanding down any corrosion

[arthurc604]

Same here when I bought my 2.5. The spring-loaded piston which pushes up the flap was sticking. Unbolted (don't drop any bolts down the drain hole!) disassembled, cleaned and lubed. Been fine ever since.

[gforceg]

This reminded me mine needed a good coat of looking at so I've just taken it apart and cleaned/lubed it again and it now snaps up as it should.

[MX-5 Lazza]

p.s. WD40 is a bad choice of lubricant. It is a water dispersant (W.D.) and dries out very quickly. A silicone spray would work a lot better.