I’ve had this issue 3 times now, I go to fill up my tank and the fuel door won’t open. It’s not frozen, it moves, it just will not open.
When it happened this time, I checked to make sure the doors were not locked, I restarted the car, tried again, no dice. I moved the car, no dice. I unlocked it with the Fob, the button on the door, turned off the window lock, held down the unlock on the fob, turned the car off and on from both internal and the fob, opened and closed both sliding doors, yelled at it a bit (felt good but still no luck).
I tried everything I could think of so I searched from my phone and someone suggested «get in the car, close the driver door, turn the car off, and without pressing the brake hit the start button 2 times to put it in accessory, and then press the break and start the car, turn it off, press start 2 times for accessory (no brake) and unlock the doors and open the driver door and try the gas door» and I hate to tell you, it worked. Something in there reset the process, I’m not sure what but it worked. I can’t recreate the issue, and I’m always needing to be somewhere when I’m filling up so not really an option to go to the dealer and get it looked at, and to be honest, if I can’t reproduce it in front of them they will do nothing about it.
There are also a lot of sites saying there is a bypass in the luggage area, there is no mention of this in the manual, and I haven’t been able to find one (Canadian SX trim).
Has anyone else had this happen? Is there a better fix?
855 příspěvků · Připojeno 2021
I tried everything I could think of so I searched from my phone and someone suggested «get in the car, close the driver door, turn the car off, and without pressing the brake hit the start button 2 times to put it in accessory, and then press the break and start the car, turn it off, press start 2 times for accessory (no brake) and unlock the doors and open the driver door and try the gas door» and I hate to tell you, it worked.
I can’t offer anything constructive, but this part made me laugh a bit. How in the world did someone figure out this seemingly random sequence of events?!
KiaCanuck Discussion starter
83 příspěvků · Připojeno 2021
I wish I knew, I hate to think that it might be just a lucky opening / closing of internal switches that have that effect on the fuel door or that it might have something to do with the time it takes to run that process and that magically unlocks something else.
Either way, I really must look like a crazy person sitting at the fuel pump doing all this
224 příspěvků · Připojeno 2022
US Carnivals don’t have a fuel door that opens via a button in the cabin, so most of us won’t be much help. We just press right on the fuel door itself, and it pops open mechanically.
KiaCanuck Discussion starter
83 příspěvků · Připojeno 2021
Neither do we, we press the fuel door as well, it’s that fuel door press that is not working.
It’s now happening more often then not, just no time to get it to the dealership. I find when it happens it’s really a random series of events that causes it to open again. Somewhere in turning the car on / off / accessory and locking and unlocking and locking the doors (trying the fuel door each time) it ends up working.
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2 příspěvků · Připojeno 2023
Reminds me when I bought my spanking brand new 2002 Kia Sedona EX. My battery kept on dying every few days. Had to constantly get a boost. Took it to the dealer and they could not reproduce the problem Had to talk them into keeping the Sedona over the weekend without touching it. Bingo! Dead battery. They finally traced the problem to the driver’s side power window or seat button (forget which one it was) which would remain activated, killing the battery if the car was not used for 2 or 3 consecutive days. I’m sure glad they listened to me and kept the car over the weekend.
1 příspěvek · Připojeno 2023
I’ve run into this issue after washing my car at automated washer. After googling the temporary solution is to spam door open key on FOB and push fuel door multiple times simultaneously.
I guess that problem is water penetrated to mechanism and hope that issue will be gone when warm sunny days come in.
1 příspěvek · Připojeno 2023
Just had this happen. Somehow my fault since my wife needs to get gas and it’s not working but I digress. Called three Kia dealers to ask before one finally answered. No work around. Service writer said he saw it once on another model. Basically was told to video it not working and then forcefully open it. That’s what they had to do in the shop and then they ordered the part to repair. Warranty covered because of video. Nice advice. Also confirmed they did away with the manual override cars used to come with. Probably saved them a nickel in the manufacturing process. I decided to start the car, put it in gear causing the locks to engage. Drove around the block and then back into park, shut car off and magically the gas tank opened. Perhaps the engaging drive and then park which caused the lock to engage maybe caused it to release. No scientific basis as to why it worked for me and not for my wife.
855 příspěvků · Připojeno 2021
Just had this happen. Somehow my fault since my wife needs to get gas and it’s not working but I digress.
My wife would totally do the same to me!
KiaCanuck Discussion starter
83 příspěvků · Připojeno 2021
I just leave mine open now, when I get a chance to get to the dealership and leave it there for them to figure it out I’ll drop it off. Inside the fuel door just push the clip all the way in and then close the fuel door over it, the side door opens and closes without touching it and no more worries. You can barely tell its open, but I can always get gas in it.
1 příspěvek · Připojeno 2023
I’ve had this issue 3 times now, I go to fill up my tank and the fuel door won’t open. It’s not frozen, it moves, it just will not open. When it happened this time, I checked to make sure the doors were not locked, I restarted the car, tried again, no dice. I moved the car, no dice. I unlocked it with the Fob, the button on the door, turned off the window lock, held down the unlock on the fob, turned the car off and on from both internal and the fob, opened and closed both sliding doors, yelled at it a bit (felt good but still no luck). I tried everything I could think of so I searched from my phone and someone suggested «get in the car, close the driver door, turn the car off, and without pressing the brake hit the start button 2 times to put it in accessory, and then press the break and start the car, turn it off, press start 2 times for accessory (no brake) and unlock the doors and open the driver door and try the gas door» and I hate to tell you, it worked. Something in there reset the process, I’m not sure what but it worked. I can’t recreate the issue, and I’m always needing to be somewhere when I’m filling up so not really an option to go to the dealer and get it looked at, and to be honest, if I can’t reproduce it in front of them they will do nothing about it. There are also a lot of sites saying there is a bypass in the luggage area, there is no mention of this in the manual, and I haven’t been able to find one (Canadian SX trim). Has anyone else had this happen? Is there a better fix?
My daughter is having the same issue with her carnival. Calling two different dealerships. They are clueless as they both have said they’ve never heard of this issue before which surprises me. I will have her try your trick to see if that is able to fix the issue the only thing the one Kia dealership suggested, is calling the 800 roadside service number and have the car towed in to them, the only other thing that was suggested was to take a credit card don’t use a good one use an old one and the far right hand side of the door slide it up and down to see if you can get the latch to open. Good luck.
What do you do when you get to the gas station and the gas door doesn’t open? There are two main kinds of gas door releases, I’ll give you some pointers that will help find out what’s wrong.
So, why is your gas door stuck and won’t open? If it’s a cable type gas door, it may have a broken or stretched cable keeping the fuel door shut. Electronic fuel tank doors may have a bad switch or solenoid. In either case, a faulty fuel door spring can also make the gas door stay closed.
- Types of Fuel Door Openers
- Fixing Electronic Gas Doors
- Look for a Mechanical Problem
- Zkontrolujte elektrické problémy
- Possible Cable Damage
- Missing or Weak Spring
Types of Fuel Door Openers
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There are two kinds of fuel door openers. Determining the type will help you know where to start looking to fix the problem.
If you have a gas door button on the dash or door panel, you have an electronic type. The cable type usually has a lever on the floor or next to the hood release.
Fixing Electronic Gas Doors
The button to open your electronic gas door sends a signal to a solenoid (an electronic moving part) inside the door opening. This solenoid releases the gas door latch and a spring pops it open.
To find out why it won’t open you’ll have to listen to it first. Can you hear a clicking when you press the button? If yes, that means the electronic system is working, but the spring or solenoid itself might be weak.
Look for a Mechanical Problem
Have a friend pull on the gas door while you press the button. They may have to slip a small screwdriver behind the door. Be careful not to damage the paint!
If it pops open, you know it’s the spring or solenoid. See if the solenoid moves freely while pushing the release button. If it doesn’t, but you can hear it clicking, it probably has internal damage and should be replaced.
You should also check the spring, it’s just a small metal tab near the hinge. See if it’s missing or needs adjustment. You may have to bend it slightly toward the car so that it can put more force on the door.
Zkontrolujte elektrické problémy
If you don’t hear any clicking then there is an electrical problem. This could mean a fuse, the button itself, wiring, the solenoid, or a dead battery.
Check the fuse and battery first. If those are good, you may need to have the electrical parts inspected to find out what’s wrong.
Fixing Cable Type Gas Doors
This is a fully mechanical gas door opener. It uses levers and a cable, like the brakes on a bicycle, to release the door.
The cable pulls on a tab near the gas door. This tab releases the latch, just like the solenoid on an electric type. A spring is also used here to pop the door open.
Possible Cable Damage
Think about how your gas door release lever usually feels, and then give it a try. Does it feel any looser or tighter than normal? If it feels loose, it may mean a broken or stretched release cable, while too tight could indicate the cable is seized.
It is also possible that the cable has become detached from the release lever if it feels too loose. A good cable will have some resistance, but it will still be smooth to operate.
Missing or Weak Spring
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Once you’ve confirmed the lever feels as it normally does, let’s repeat one step from the electronic type. Have a friend try to pull on the gas door again while you operate the release lever.
If it pops open, it’s almost always a broken or misadjusted spring. If the spring is not broken, make an adjustment by bending it towards the car.
You should also check the tab that holds the gas door latch. Make sure it moves freely when you operate the release lever.
Other Types of Fuel Doors
There are a few other kinds of fuel doors. Some manufacturers use the pull-open type. It has a small opening for your finger to slip in and pull the door manually.
This type is very simple with no real moving parts except for the hinge. If it is stuck and won’t open, there may be a foreign object lodged inside.
More rarely, some cars have a push-to-open type. Push the fuel door and it pops open, push it again and it closes.
There may be requirements for it to operate properly, such as the driver’s door being open or unlocked. Check your owner’s manual to be sure.
Závěrečné poznámky
Keep in mind when your fuel door won’t open, many of these types have a secondary emergency release. Usually, they are located directly behind the gas door inside the car.
The emergency release can sometimes be found near the jack and tools for your spare, but you’ll have to remove some interior panels to get to it in other cases.
You can pick up some plastic trim removal tools like these to help keep from damaging any parts. They can also be used when troubleshooting your gas door so you don’t scratch the paint.
Don’t forget to leave the fuel door open until you’re sure it’s fixed. If you have to wait for parts to arrive, this will save you a headache later!
O Stevu Frelingovi
Steve pracoval více než 20 let jako automechanik a později provozoval vlastní opravnu automobilů i motocyklů. Je to nadšenec do údržby a obecně docela dobrý v odstraňování problémů!
