Argh! Gas cap won't open! - LotusTalk

pauli33 · 05-17-2008, 12:17 PM

Has anyone ever had the gas gap stuck closed? I tried a search and didn't come up with anything...

I have an early model 2005 elise. I hadn't driven it in about 3 weeks. Got back in and noticed i forgot to fill up on my last drive. I still had a 1/4 tank so i drove for 30 minutes or so before stopping at a gas station.

When i went to unscrew the gas cap i notice it was closed very tightly. I really had to give it an unusually strong twist to get it to budge. After i got it loose i continued to unscrew (about 1 more turn) and then heard a "click" - and encountered some resistance again. Try again and the same thing happens. It's as if it starts to open and then the screw catches another thread....

Anyone ever had this happen? Did i maybe miss align the cap with the thread last time i put it on?

I'm now down to nearly empty and have no idea what to do. I'm thinking i may have to flat bed it to the dealer because i'm almost out of gas... thoughts?

thanks in advance!

Randy Chase · 05-17-2008, 12:23 PM

Yes. It became more common on my car. And it is really not totally stuck, it just feels like it. If I applied enough leverage, it would eventually open.

pauli33 · 05-17-2008, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy Chase

Yes. It became more common on my car. And it is really not totally stuck, it just feels like it. If I applied enough leverage, it would eventually open.

The weird thing is that it does loosen for a turn or two, but then it tightens up again after an audible "click" and feels like any progress i've made just reset. Thats why i thought maybe the thread was misaligned...

Did the same thing happen to you Randy. Did you just solve it with more turns?

cory1000 · 05-17-2008, 12:47 PM

I had it happen.. when you try to loosen it and get any movement out of it just pull out at that point, dont keep turning...

pauli33 · 05-17-2008, 01:38 PM

Uh... so remember that epic fail thread... yeah, that'd be me now...

I tried using some pliers to get more leverage. I tried to twist and pull the cap off. unfortunately the "top" of the cap came off instead. What i'm left with is this. Excuse the poor quality pic, it's from my camera and it was in my parking garage...

I tried to use a wrench to twist the white part but i can't get a grip.

So now i'm completely lost. Any ideas?

Randy Chase · 05-17-2008, 02:10 PM

That would be too much leverage.

You can remove the outer aluminum ring if it helps with clearance. And of course... there is removing the rear clam.

If it was me, I would try some pliers into the spoked area of the plastic and see if you can turn it. But if the top separated, it must be pretty stuck.

Ol'Racer · 05-17-2008, 02:16 PM

Try locking needlenose pliers...once they are locked, continue to turn while pulling towards you.

pauli33 · 05-17-2008, 02:34 PM

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

I'm actually gonna sleep on it.

I don't have the proper tools on hand right now anyway.. and i don't want to risk breaking anything else

I'll post progress as soon as i've got more news.

Feel free to chime in if you have any other ideas!

Cheers,

-Paul

pauli33 · 05-19-2008, 06:40 AM

Bump for suggestions from the weekday crowd...

Haven't really tried any new approaches. Going to pick up a pair of locking needle nose pliers today and try it out.

Anyone have any other thoughts?

NJdrool · 05-19-2008, 06:51 AM

Also make sure you buy a replacement cap. Once you get the old one out you'll need something else to put in it's place otherwise you will get a CEL.

Bavarian Motorist · 05-19-2008, 08:22 AM

Dude, put some muscle into it!! It's plastic, right? Although now with virtually no grip, it's gonna be hard to do

xtn · 05-19-2008, 10:32 AM

I drove around for 24 hours without a gas cap and got no CEL.

xtn

05-17-2008, 12:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
pauli33 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 89	Argh! Gas cap won't open! Has anyone ever had the gas gap stuck closed? I tried a search and didn't come up with anything... I have an early model 2005 elise. I hadn't driven it in about 3 weeks. Got back in and noticed i forgot to fill up on my last drive. I still had a 1/4 tank so i drove for 30 minutes or so before stopping at a gas station. When i went to unscrew the gas cap i notice it was closed very tightly. I really had to give it an unusually strong twist to get it to budge. After i got it loose i continued to unscrew (about 1 more turn) and then heard a "click" - and encountered some resistance again. Try again and the same thing happens. It's as if it starts to open and then the screw catches another thread.... Anyone ever had this happen? Did i maybe miss align the cap with the thread last time i put it on? I'm now down to nearly empty and have no idea what to do. I'm thinking i may have to flat bed it to the dealer because i'm almost out of gas... thoughts? thanks in advance! __________________ Pauli33 - Brooklyn, NY ----------------------------------- 2005 BRP Elise 1987 Porsche 930 - Gone but not forgotten

05-17-2008, 12:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
Randy Chase Forum Founder Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: San Diego! Posts: 18,830 Images: 758	Yes. It became more common on my car. And it is really not totally stuck, it just feels like it. If I applied enough leverage, it would eventually open. __________________ *** V E R I T A S * A E Q U I T A S *** We have been feeling the buzz since 2004 2006 Noble M400. 500 pounds of torque, 500+whp. Getrag tranny, Quaiffe LSD, Duratec dual turbo V6. Hoosier 315-18 tires. 2350 pounds. 0-60mph in 2.9 seconds. Hinged clams. This is the Elise turned up to ELEVEN.

05-17-2008, 12:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
cory1000 Help!!!! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Shaker Heights, OH Posts: 1,366	I had it happen.. when you try to loosen it and get any movement out of it just pull out at that point, dont keep turning... __________________ 2007 Graphite Grey Exige S - Touring Pack, Traction Control, StarShield, Shift-I shift light, Nitron Sport Pro, Arqray De-Cat, Arqray Single Tip, SS brake Lines, R4 pads front and rear, BWR eliminator kit, Schroth 5-point, Accusump kit, Forcedfed Engine Damper Kit, Oil Catch Cans, Braille Battery. Removed from car - Dash, airbags, passenger seat, all carpets, center console and more to come! 2008 Mercedes-Benz ML350 - Daily Driver. 1957 BMW Isetta - In process of restoring.

05-17-2008, 01:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
pauli33 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 89	Uh... so remember that epic fail thread... yeah, that'd be me now... I tried using some pliers to get more leverage. I tried to twist and pull the cap off. unfortunately the "top" of the cap came off instead. What i'm left with is this. Excuse the poor quality pic, it's from my camera and it was in my parking garage... I tried to use a wrench to twist the white part but i can't get a grip. So now i'm completely lost. Any ideas? Attached Images __________________ Pauli33 - Brooklyn, NY ----------------------------------- 2005 BRP Elise 1987 Porsche 930 - Gone but not forgotten

05-17-2008, 02:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
Randy Chase Forum Founder Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: San Diego! Posts: 18,830 Images: 758	That would be too much leverage. You can remove the outer aluminum ring if it helps with clearance. And of course... there is removing the rear clam. If it was me, I would try some pliers into the spoked area of the plastic and see if you can turn it. But if the top separated, it must be pretty stuck. __________________ *** V E R I T A S * A E Q U I T A S *** We have been feeling the buzz since 2004 2006 Noble M400. 500 pounds of torque, 500+whp. Getrag tranny, Quaiffe LSD, Duratec dual turbo V6. Hoosier 315-18 tires. 2350 pounds. 0-60mph in 2.9 seconds. Hinged clams. This is the Elise turned up to ELEVEN.

05-17-2008, 02:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ol'Racer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 325	Try locking needlenose pliers...once they are locked, continue to turn while pulling towards you.

05-17-2008, 02:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
pauli33 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 89	Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I'm actually gonna sleep on it. I don't have the proper tools on hand right now anyway.. and i don't want to risk breaking anything else I'll post progress as soon as i've got more news. Feel free to chime in if you have any other ideas! Cheers, -Paul __________________ Pauli33 - Brooklyn, NY ----------------------------------- 2005 BRP Elise 1987 Porsche 930 - Gone but not forgotten

05-19-2008, 06:40 AM	#9 (permalink)
pauli33 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 89	Bump for suggestions from the weekday crowd... Haven't really tried any new approaches. Going to pick up a pair of locking needle nose pliers today and try it out. Anyone have any other thoughts? __________________ Pauli33 - Brooklyn, NY ----------------------------------- 2005 BRP Elise 1987 Porsche 930 - Gone but not forgotten

05-19-2008, 06:51 AM	#10 (permalink)
NJdrool Waiting Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 143	Also make sure you buy a replacement cap. Once you get the old one out you'll need something else to put in it's place otherwise you will get a CEL. __________________ Bob in NJ WTB: 06 ELISE CO/KG

05-19-2008, 08:22 AM	#11 (permalink)
Bavarian Motorist Live to Drive Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Rye, NY Posts: 6,132	Dude, put some muscle into it!! It's plastic, right? Although now with virtually no grip, it's gonna be hard to do __________________ Some people would say a Lotus is a compromise, but I would say that anything else is a compromise. NEXT MODS... PPE header/sport cat arrived!! Awaiting installation & tune

05-19-2008, 10:32 AM	#12 (permalink)
xtn McLareghini Bugatterrari Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 5,114	I drove around for 24 hours without a gas cap and got no CEL. xtn __________________ 2006 McLareghini Bugatterrari, Storm Titanium... <mods> installed: air horn, Scroth 4-point ASM harnesses, Sector111 halon extinguisher and mounting bracket, Von Hep exhaust and rear panel delete, Pagid brake pads, red Volks CE28n wheels, Toyo RA-1 tires, Nitron SA coilovers, Sector111 (WorksBell) quick-disconnect steering wheel kit. awaiting installation: Scroth "pull-up" lap belts, Sector111 RTD Brace, Tony's heater bypass mod, and dropped steering rack mounting plates. </mods>

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