Went to the petrol station yesterday and I had some trouble opening the flap.... Is there a way of tightening the wire as it feels as though it's just stretched over time?

First off check the latch on the flap isn't bent

Already checked that, there must be a way of tightening it up a bit?

Edited February 21, 20187 yr by coopd

Check the flap hinge hasnt moved loosen the screws reposition it and retighten. Had this happen on both mine too

The piece of metal that acts as a spring to open it bends.

 

Take it off bend it back so that it's applying more force on the flap when closed.

 

Done that to mine and it's now like an ejector seat flap.

Thats happened to me. Very embarrassing. I now have an old Credit Card in the car to slode down the side of the lock and open it in an emaergency.

 

One time I found the the long piece of metal had moved out of one of it's holding points and that was the problem

had similar issue, where one of the hinges was not aligned quite right, which prevented it from opening.

looks like plenty of quirks to check before suspecting the cable itself

The piece of metal that acts as a spring to open it bends.

 

Take it off bend it back so that it's applying more force on the flap when closed.

 

Done that to mine and it's now like an ejector seat flap.

 

Where is the spring located?

 

I've already checked the hinges as that happened when I first got the car.

Count you guys lucky my shortie has a snapped cable somewhere...

Count you guys lucky my shortie has a snapped cable somewhere...

 

Most likely the end ferrule at the petrol flap end, you can improvise something like a cable connector ( the screw ones )

 

Jeff

Went to the petrol station yesterday and I had some trouble opening the flap.... Is there a way of tightening the wire as it feels as though it's just stretched over time?

 

Sure its a solid wire rather than a braided one so may be there something else wrong.

 

Jeff

Its not really a spring but bent piece of metal that pushed outwards against the petrol flap.

 

Open the flap and bend it slighty back so that when closed it applies more force on the flap.

 

Pictured here in the middle :

 

Where is the spring located?

 

I've already checked the hinges as that happened when I first got the car.

Most likely the end ferrule at the petrol flap end, you can improvise something like a cable connector ( the screw ones )

 

Jeff

But then it would surely work at the hatch end. Either way I'm going to replace the whole cable with a spare

Cheers guys, I'll take a look on Saturday

Thats happened to me. Very embarrassing. I now have an old Credit Card in the car to slode down the side of the lock and open it in an emaergency.

 

One time I found the the long piece of metal had moved out of one of it's holding points and that was the problem

 

Or an RAC card - just as good, if not more useful....:wink:

 

PS apologies to the OP for my little attempt at humour....

But then it would surely work at the hatch end. Either way I'm going to replace the whole cable with a spare

 

Cable operates in different directions for the hatch and the petrol flap.

 

Jeff