The case of the stubborn pertrol lock

[friday]

I'm currently the proud owner of a navy J-reg Fox which I inherited when my parents fled the country.

It's been good to me while I've been learning to drive and the few troubles I've had have proved a good introduction to mechanics (flat battery, rust spots on the wings mirrors).

However when I pulled into the petrol station to fill it up for the second time in my ownership I found a fiendish puzzle waiting for me - the petrol cap wouldn't come off.

Nor being particularly familiar with using it I'm not quite sure what's wrong. I'm hoping a fellow owner can help me with the first stage. In one state it spins freely around and won't come off, stick the key in and turn it one quarter and the cap still turns but clicks into place at either North to South or East to West on the handle and won't budge from there (it won't come off either). Any ideas?

If I can't find a way to get it off naturally does anyone know how I could get it off unaturally? It's quite an awkward place to get something in to lever it off and I can't see anywhere to attach something to pull it off

I don't have a wide array of tools but there is a dodgy mechanics up my road who would know what to do if I directed them.

Finally if I do have to destroy it, where's the smartest place to pick up a replacement? (I'm not fussy about picking up a second hand one)

Thanks folks (and sorry for the heouge post)

[GroovyCarrot]

Hello, welcome etc etc
Sounds a very strange problem... the standard petrol caps won't move at all if they're locked and should just unscrew when they're unlocked, so my guess is it's already been replaced at some point.
Judging by what you've said, I'd guess that the cap is designed to latch onto the thread when you turn the key to unlock it, and it's just not quite doing it. The click will be the internals of the cap making contact with the thread but not quite binding with it enough to actually unscrew. Are you sure the key only turns 1/4 turn? Try some WD40 in it, see if the key turns further. Also, when you're unscrewing it try pulling it towards you to give it a helping hand.

If you can't get it off normally, I'd suggest just giving it to your dodgy mechanic, being dodgy I'm sure they'll know all the tricks of lock removal without keys

Locking petrol caps are ten a penny on ebay, or any auto accessory shop will sell them for not too much money, won't be the end of the world Second hand caps are nothing to worry about, they tend to outlast the rest of the car anyway.

Good luck with it - hope you don't run out of petrol before you get it fixed

[Tahrey1043]

if you want to be sure, martyn at vagparts sells em - for a pretty penny, aye, but trustworthy. that or your local VW dealer may be able to get one in.
and, GSF probably sell almost exactly the same thing for half the price (though they'll b***h and moan if you bring it back cuz it dont work)

DONT go to halfords, their stuff is crap in this case, especially the locking cap.

for now, to get fuel in, limp to the nearest petrol station that sells emergency filler caps (or have a box of forgotten ones including one thats non-locking but looks poloey - the bronzed metal is a dead givaway) and get to jiggling.

the position where it spins freely is the "locked" position, so turn it the other way. Should be a quite positive 1/4 turn and then the whole shebang should move a little harder. Again, a quarter turn, this time turning the entire cap to the left (um, i mean, anticlockwise). Now set to trying to wriggle it off, there's probably something catching so use all your ingenuity, lubricants, strength etc. Once it's off, "lock" it again (so you can retrieve your key - bit pointless i know, but keyrings are buggers and you're better off trying it at home than outdoors) and either discard or keep as an amusing paperweight.
fill up, buy the emergency cap, fit it, drive home, and then set about getting a replacement.

my replacement (mine has always been knackered, didnt even have a working key - i assume the previous owners simply gave up and forced it) is silkey smooth and great.

you could get a non-locking replacement very, very cheaply (hell, i could post you mine for a couple of 1st class stamps), but i must warn you: they're nasty on the hands.