1987 Gas Cap door wont open

[Redeemedsoul]

Hey all, My gas cap door seems to be locked and wont open. I try to use the button in the glove box but it just seems locked shut. It hasn't been open in a while, which the past owner said. This is the first time driving the car and it was about to hit E.

Really need to get that gas cap open, should i just muscle it open .. Any way to manually unlock other than glove box button?

 

[Daggar]

No... don't muscle it. Remove the right side interior panel form the hatch area. You should be able to access the solenoid or cable from there (it's pretty fuzzy in my head, I've not looked at it a long time).

You can either try applying power directly to the solenoid or operate it manually to get it opened.

 

[Redeemedsoul]

The right side door panel or panel under the hatch window / trunk?

Thanks!

 

[GSP393]

I usually have to open mine like that, I have it with the black pull handle left out for easy access.

 

[HISSIN50]

On my 88 Vert, the cable was under the trunk liner where Andy said (I dont have panels to remove, but I did have to dig around to find the cable).

Try pushing on your button harder and at an angle. The button contacts get sticky - sometimes hitting it just right is needed (mine acts up a few times a year. I stab it about 5 times and it finally works).

FWIW, you can simply use another button (a momentary switch) or wire the circuit into a programmable output of your alarm if you have one. There's just 12 volt to the switch and 12 V leaving it when you close the circuit (push the button).

Good luck.

 

[Daggar]

The right side door panel or panel under the hatch window / trunk?

Thanks!

The kick panel on the right side of the hatch/trunk area. It seems like I've also seen the plastic pull tab that was mentioned above, behind the rear most interior panel in the hatch area as well. I don't recall the year of the car though. It will be in one of those two areas though.

 

[Fox8950]

+1 on the button contacts. The last 2 stangs I've had the gas door wouldn't open until I pulled the button apart and took a pink eraser (works great) and cleaned all the crap off the contacts. But if all else fails just use the manual release ripcord (don't pull to hard they break easy ) like Daggar was talking about.

 

[Redeemedsoul]

Just took out the interior panels and and got to the spare tire of the trunk. The black pull tab was near the hatch latch under all the carpeting. I will post pictures tomm. when it get's brighter out then it is now. Thanks for all the help!

Also started to take apart the dash/glove box to clean, and will have a few pictures of that. Maybe can put some text together to get a sticky with pics for future questions of this matter.

Thanks again all and cya tomm!

 

[cenok is family]

before you do ANY of that, check the fuse under the dash on the driver's side. mine wouldn't open and it turns out the fuse was blown. replaced it and it's worked perfect ever since.