Fuel Door Won't Open

You don't press the lever for the fuel door, you pull it up!!!

The Maint Req light flashes before it reaches the 5000 mile mark and then stays on. Most likely it was not reset at the last oil change

 

The light and the fuel door aren't related. Resetting the light is
in the owners manual. The fuel door sounds like a problem, though;
it's not hard for the latch piece to get bent out more so that the
pin doesn't release it when you pull the cable. Or the cable itself
could have busted -- have someone watch the little door pin while
you pull the handle and see if it still moves.
.
_H*

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Atwork @ Oct 23 2007, 12:39 PM) [snapback]529355[/snapback]</div>

So. Which light is on? Is it the maintenance required light? The check engine light?

I think the reason that firepa suggested the Maint Req light is because your description sounds like exactly what happens when it's been 4500-5000 miles since the light was last reset.

The Maint. Req. light is just simply a counter that tells you when 5000 miles have elapsed since it was last reset (hopefully at your last oil change, but some dealers have been known to forget to do it from time to time). The Check Engine light can indicate a lot of different things and potentially can mean a more serious problem with the car.

 

You might try to lube the pin area once the door is open. Dirt and the like may be clogging up the works.

 

I'll parrot the "maint req'd" light comments, but add that if you're on a slightly different maintenance schedule than the recommended, e.g. you do oil changes every 3-4000 miles instead of 5 (or, gasp, longer than 5,000 mile intervals ), and/or you don't have service done at a Toyota shop, then that light won't be in sync with when you do service.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hobbit @ Oct 23 2007, 10:17 AM) [snapback]529345[/snapback]</div>

When I experienced a similar problem, the cable and the pin worked just fine, but the spring that pushes the door open was missing. If that were to be the case, you need to have someone pull up the lever while at the same time you push in the hinge side of the fuel filler door.

 

If you don't have a second person handy, you can hook the release lever under the driver's shoulder belt to hold it up while you push the fuel door open.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aaf709 @ Oct 23 2007, 12:51 PM) [snapback]529364[/snapback]</div>

Yup! It's quite normal for a spring/hinge to dry up after awhile. A squirt of WD-40 will make a world of difference.

 

Re: Fuel Door Won't Open

Thanks for the tips, you Prius owners. It is Thanksgiving Eve at 11:23 and I just got back from the filling station AFTER following this specific detail about propping up the lever. It worked beautifully. I can work out the kink after Thanksgiving, thankfully. Now we head 300 miles away to my Mom's 90th birthday celebration!!!

 

Re: Fuel Door Won't Open

Thanks every one.
I have been having the same problem. I guess it needs lubrication.
I fill up so infrequently that I always forget to try to fix it.