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: Hoboken, NJ Posts: 106	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 - Hoboken, NJ ----------------------------------- 2005 BRP Elise 1987 Porsche 930 - Gone but not forgotten

05-17-2008, 12:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
Randy Chase Administrator Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: San Diego and where ever the roads lead Posts: 27,163 Images: 761	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 2002 2006 Noble M400. Getrag tranny, Quaiffe LSD, Hinged clams. Duratec dual turbo V6. Hoosier 315-18 tires. 2350 pounds. Over 500hp. Track weapon. 2009 Rossion Q1. Monaco Orange. Wing. Black leather/Alcantara with orange stitching. The street car. In build: 2009 Toniq R (400whp? 1100 pounds?). Chrome Orange. Lexus GX-470 tow vehicle. “Busy at times off the forum and scary actually off the Internets. So I may not see your pm or emails for a while"

05-17-2008, 01:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
pauli33 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Hoboken, NJ Posts: 106	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 - Hoboken, NJ ----------------------------------- 2005 BRP Elise 1987 Porsche 930 - Gone but not forgotten

05-17-2008, 02:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
Randy Chase Administrator Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: San Diego and where ever the roads lead Posts: 27,163 Images: 761	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 2002 2006 Noble M400. Getrag tranny, Quaiffe LSD, Hinged clams. Duratec dual turbo V6. Hoosier 315-18 tires. 2350 pounds. Over 500hp. Track weapon. 2009 Rossion Q1. Monaco Orange. Wing. Black leather/Alcantara with orange stitching. The street car. In build: 2009 Toniq R (400whp? 1100 pounds?). Chrome Orange. Lexus GX-470 tow vehicle. “Busy at times off the forum and scary actually off the Internets. So I may not see your pm or emails for a while"

05-17-2008, 02:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
pauli33 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Hoboken, NJ Posts: 106	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 - Hoboken, NJ ----------------------------------- 2005 BRP Elise 1987 Porsche 930 - Gone but not forgotten

05-17-2008, 12:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
cory1000 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,769	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...

05-17-2008, 02:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ol'Racer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 406	Try locking needlenose pliers...once they are locked, continue to turn while pulling towards you.

05-19-2008, 06:40 AM	#9 (permalink)
pauli33 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Hoboken, NJ Posts: 106	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 - Hoboken, NJ ----------------------------------- 2005 BRP Elise 1987 Porsche 930 - Gone but not forgotten

05-19-2008, 06:51 AM	#10 (permalink)
NJdrool Finally Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 455	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 06 Sport Elise # 23 Stage II/Micromirror/Green wire mod/S111 tow hook/BWR front plate holder/Green filter/desnorkled/HID's-Hi & Low/Stealth Bulbs.

05-19-2008, 08:22 AM	#11 (permalink)
Bavarian Motorist Live to Drive Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NYC/Westchester, NY Posts: 10,366	Dude, put some muscle into it!! It's plastic, right? Although now with virtually no grip, it's gonna be hard to do __________________ If you can't say something nice, it'd better be funny.

05-19-2008, 10:32 AM	#12 (permalink)
xtn McLareghini Bugatterrari Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 6,663	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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