Fuel Flap Won't Unlock

[JamesT5]

I went to fill up with V-Power tonight and the fuel flap was stuck locked. I tried everything from unlocking the car, pulling the battery, pulling the fuse and nothing released it so in the end I gave up and just drove home. I tried releasing it when I got home and nothing happened despite dead locking the car and then unlocking it again.

Has this happened to anyone else? I suspect a solenoid has failed, pity it didn't fail the other way. But how the hell do I now refill my car because I need a manual release which probably means taking all the interior trim off the O/S of the car boot area. Failing that I'll have to try and lever the flap open with something.

What a total PITA!

[stribo]

This happened to our R, I had to rip the fuel flap off to get petrol in it.

[jamesy12345]

Have you got one of these in the boot??

[JamesT5]

There is a way of manually releasing it from inside the car but it means a whole load of work. Ripping my fuel flap off is really not something I want to do tbh.

[JamesT5]

Have you got one of these in the boot??

Thanks mate, that's really useful. The carpet section is different on the V70 but once I've got to the motor the job should be simple enough.

[claymore]

I've just checked on the s60, and it was a 30 second job

[jamesy12345]

There is a way of manually releasing it from inside the car but it means a whole load of work. Ripping my fuel flap off is really not something I want to do tbh.

^^^That's what the video I posted is about

[JamesT5]

I've just checked on the s60, and it was a 30 second job

Ok thanks Colin. I took the carpet cover off and couldn't see anything but I'll take a look in the morning or later on if there is enough daylight.

[JamesT5]

^^^That's what the video I posted is about

Yeah, you replied as I was typing that message....

[jamesy12345]

Yeah, you replied as I was typing that message....

OK, just making it clear for future readers

Hope it sorts you out

[stribo]

Have you got one of these in the boot??

Yes, I tried that but the bolt was seized, hence ripping the flap off.

[jamesy12345]

Yes, I tried that but the bolt was seized, hence ripping the flap off.

Ouch.....looks like not much room in there for freeing off seized bolts

[stribo]

Ouch.....looks like not much room in there for freeing off seized bolts

Well, it's not a bolt as such, it's the plastic bit that slides across to lock the flap, there is a tab on it so you can slide it across, but because it was seized the tab snapped off.

[JamesT5]

Found another useful link. Looks like the back cover has to come off as I suspected, obviously different from the S60 set up......

http://www.justanswer.com/volvo/4k33...r-fuse-ok.html

[claymore]

I would be very surprised if it was that difficult, perhaps to replace the solenoid, but to open the flap should be easy, I'm pretty sure manufacturers have to provide a manual release mechanism.

[stribo]

I would be very surprised if it was that difficult, perhaps to replace the solenoid, but to open the flap should be easy, I'm pretty sure manufacturers have to provide a manual release mechanism.

You'd think wouldn't you Col, however although there is a tab to retract the locking pin:


As ours was seized, when I pulled on the tab, it just snapped off, then you have no other alternative than to rip the door off, which is likely to break the hinge as well. The solenoid can only be removed once the door is open/removed.

[jdavis]

Mine did this when I first got it, just banged it while I unlocked car and it freed off. Bit of wd40 on the pin when I got home and all fine. Problem was waiting the 10 minutes with flap open waiting for it to lock to lube the pin.

[JamesT5]

Well I've sorted it. I took all the interior trim and sound proofing off this morning and the plastic slider moved freely. It's now working again but for how long I don't know, I suspect I'll need as new unit at some point but for now I've got it working again having rest the thing manually.

A photo of the location for any P2 V70 owners with the same issue....



Thanks to all who gave advice above!

[partsforvolvos.com]

iirc, saloon models have the wire loop to pull for emergency situations but estates don't ........ go figure!

james, the motor is all the same - s60 s80 v70 xc90 so second hand is a strong possibility since a new one is £90 or so!

[stribo]

iirc, saloon models have the wire loop to pull for emergency situations but estates don't ........ go figure!

james, the motor is all the same - s60 s80 v70 xc90 so second hand is a strong possibility since a new one is £90 or so!

S60s don't have a wire loop, don't know about the S80.