Petrol tank cap won't release - HELP!!!!
Discussion
Hi guys
I've got a problem, the petrol tank cap won't open when I push the button OR when I use the emergancy release in the boot.
You can hear the electric system working when you press the cabin button and you can hear it release when you use the boot release, but the cap doesn't budge despite a bit of light 'coaxing'.
Any ideas?
Cheers
I've got a problem, the petrol tank cap won't open when I push the button OR when I use the emergancy release in the boot.
You can hear the electric system working when you press the cabin button and you can hear it release when you use the boot release, but the cap doesn't budge despite a bit of light 'coaxing'.
Any ideas?
Cheers
Julian ,seems to be one of those niggles that despite dealer fixes on the spring isn't guaranteed to not happen again.
I always found the trick was after first failed to open by button and then release in the boot was to casually try the boot release again whilst gently and simultaneously inserting a credit card in the flap gap ( ooh err matron ) at the same slip and gently prising open.
Make sure you look around casually whilst doing this and look nonchalant.
I always found the trick was after first failed to open by button and then release in the boot was to casually try the boot release again whilst gently and simultaneously inserting a credit card in the flap gap ( ooh err matron ) at the same slip and gently prising open.
Make sure you look around casually whilst doing this and look nonchalant.
alscar said:
Julian ,seems to be one of those niggles that despite dealer fixes on the spring isn't guaranteed to not happen again.
I always found the trick was after first failed to open by button and then release in the boot was to casually try the boot release again whilst gently and simultaneously inserting a credit card in the flap gap ( ooh err matron ) at the same slip and gently prising open.
Make sure you look around casually whilst doing this and look nonchalant.
Had a similar issue with my V12 VS and the credit card trick worked too. The root cause was the filler cover not sitting dead centre in the recess, some adjustment of the hinge is possible but with that maxed out mine still wasn't quite dead centre but enough to stop the problem recurring.I always found the trick was after first failed to open by button and then release in the boot was to casually try the boot release again whilst gently and simultaneously inserting a credit card in the flap gap ( ooh err matron ) at the same slip and gently prising open.
Make sure you look around casually whilst doing this and look nonchalant.
AdamV12V said:
We had this issue with our AMR Rapide several times when it was new.
Try pressing down gently on the flap at the same time as pressing the button. It's a 2 man job obviously...
Try pressing down gently on the flap at the same time as pressing the button. It's a 2 man job obviously...
alscar said:
Julian ,seems to be one of those niggles that despite dealer fixes on the spring isn't guaranteed to not happen again.
I always found the trick was after first failed to open by button and then release in the boot was to casually try the boot release again whilst gently and simultaneously inserting a credit card in the flap gap ( ooh err matron ) at the same slip and gently prising open.
Make sure you look around casually whilst doing this and look nonchalant.
And PistonHeads shows it true power once again!!! Thank you so much guys - especially alscar, for coming to my rescue!I always found the trick was after first failed to open by button and then release in the boot was to casually try the boot release again whilst gently and simultaneously inserting a credit card in the flap gap ( ooh err matron ) at the same slip and gently prising open.
Make sure you look around casually whilst doing this and look nonchalant.
She is open, the card trick worked and I didn't get arrested!!!
Ironically, I went though my wallet to find a card I didn't mind getting runied and found in its depths an old Aston Martin Emergancy Assistance card from when I had my DB9, so it did live up to its name!
Seriously, thank guys. I am out in the Algarve and no of no dealers here, so was panicking!
GT3ZZZ said:
Had a similar issue with my V12 VS and the credit card trick worked too. The root cause was the filler cover not sitting dead centre in the recess, some adjustment of the hinge is possible but with that maxed out mine still wasn't quite dead centre but enough to stop the problem recurring.
Thanks GT3ZZZ, I'll take a look and see if I can do any manipulation!Cheers
Delighted it worked !
As Pete said its the tiny bit off centre that can cause the issue and one fix is to fit a slightly longer spring apparently -I never understood why this should make a difference and both my last 2 Vantages had the same so called fix and both times it failed again although when the V12 was fixed again it seemed to stay fixed.
Good weekend all.
As Pete said its the tiny bit off centre that can cause the issue and one fix is to fit a slightly longer spring apparently -I never understood why this should make a difference and both my last 2 Vantages had the same so called fix and both times it failed again although when the V12 was fixed again it seemed to stay fixed.
Good weekend all.
Glad your sorted and my Vanquish does exactly the same and I haven practised the art of pushing button , open boot (pretend I'm adjusting something in the boot while looking cool), pull emergency release while using thumb to prise up the lid.
Of course no one is ever looking as a bloody noisy V12 aston doesn't attract any attention on a petrol forecourt so no-one will ever know
Of course no one is ever looking as a bloody noisy V12 aston doesn't attract any attention on a petrol forecourt so no-one will ever know
Can confirm that the flap edge rubbing on the Coupe quarter panel can cause this issue. If the flap is high or low then it can be "adjusted" by applying a little force to align it better. If the flap is too close to the hinge (too far forward) then you can pack the hinge with shims to get it central. Rich of Redpants (Telum01 on here) has video on adjusting the flap:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU7Ljq0kxZk
In my case the flap was too far rearwards, meaning the hinge was effectively too "long" and I could see a slight paint rub at about 3 o'clock where the two parts were touching. I fixed it by leaning my bodyweight on the open flap to bend the pressed hinge form slightly - a heart in mouth moment
.
Since I did this tweak I've had 100% reliability of the flap opening compared with about 50% before, but out of habit when I stop for fuel, after the "bzzzzt" of the relay when I press the button, I still listen out for the "thud-thud" of the flap bouncing off its stop as it opens.
The issue is that the mechanical advantage of the spring in the hinge mechanism is very low when the flap is closed, making it incapable of overcoming any additional friction. The root cause is either the hinge is out of position where it is screwed to the body, or a possible build-up of tolerances between the filler aperture in the rear quarter, the position of the bonded-on filler bowl to the rear quarter, any tolerance in the two halves of the actual hinge, and the position of the actual flap pressing where it's bonded to the flap inner meaning the flap is always too close the the quarter panel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU7Ljq0kxZk
In my case the flap was too far rearwards, meaning the hinge was effectively too "long" and I could see a slight paint rub at about 3 o'clock where the two parts were touching. I fixed it by leaning my bodyweight on the open flap to bend the pressed hinge form slightly - a heart in mouth moment
. Since I did this tweak I've had 100% reliability of the flap opening compared with about 50% before, but out of habit when I stop for fuel, after the "bzzzzt" of the relay when I press the button, I still listen out for the "thud-thud" of the flap bouncing off its stop as it opens.
The issue is that the mechanical advantage of the spring in the hinge mechanism is very low when the flap is closed, making it incapable of overcoming any additional friction. The root cause is either the hinge is out of position where it is screwed to the body, or a possible build-up of tolerances between the filler aperture in the rear quarter, the position of the bonded-on filler bowl to the rear quarter, any tolerance in the two halves of the actual hinge, and the position of the actual flap pressing where it's bonded to the flap inner meaning the flap is always too close the the quarter panel.
Edited by LTP on Saturday 21st May 10:03
Gents,
Had the same story when I first went to fill up my Vanquish after delivery..
10 minutes at petrol station with 4 of us trying to persuade the filler cap to open - eventually used the release from inside the boot to good effect...
When I spoke to the dealer, he opened the flap, applied a bit of pressure to the spring and all's good - that was nearly 3 years ago and its been fine since...
I know this was the same for another PH user too.
cheers
Had the same story when I first went to fill up my Vanquish after delivery..
10 minutes at petrol station with 4 of us trying to persuade the filler cap to open - eventually used the release from inside the boot to good effect...
When I spoke to the dealer, he opened the flap, applied a bit of pressure to the spring and all's good - that was nearly 3 years ago and its been fine since...
I know this was the same for another PH user too.
cheers
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