HELP! Fuel Flap Stuck!

[Pav]

i found that mine is ok..it just gets stuck in the hole so i made it bigger which cured it..

 

[Louise]

Ugh, it looks like the solenoid is gone, not looking forward to pricing a new one. I got it open in the end thanks to a cached google post. Basically there's no easy access release, you need to take off the interior panel that the right rear seat belt feeds through. it is the white one and comes off easily.

the text is below, I will attach some pics too.

"This happened to our 55 plate clio this weekend. And I felt compelled to join this forum to post a bit of useful/accurate "how to" information.

On our model, it a regular bog standard clio, there is no emergency release pulley or clip despite what the previous posts say. I phoned the renault dealership that sold us the car and they confirmed this.

It is possible however, as I discovered eventually, to squeeze ones hand onto a tiny element of the central locking solenoid that locks the fuel tank door if you unclip the trim around the rear A frame where the fuel door is situated.

On our clio (with the trim removed) we seem to have an airbag unit just the above the seat belt unit. To the right and very slightly up from the airbag gas canister it is possible to get ones hand in to a small gap (this will be directly above the fuel door. Here you can feel what seems to be the top of a small piston or plunger. This is the lock device for the fuel door which you can pull up. This should "manually release the fuel door and you can fill up and then sort the route cause of the problem.

DO NOT attempt to tear off the door, there is no way for it to come off without causing major damage despite what you may think.

Hope this helps

Vaz"

If you're still out there, thank you!! This worked for us

 

[Brun]

Ugh, it looks like the solenoid is gone, not looking forward to pricing a new one. I got it open in the end thanks to a cached google post. Basically there's no easy access release, you need to take off the interior panel that the right rear seat belt feeds through. it is the white one and comes off easily.

the text is below, I will attach some pics too.

"This happened to our 55 plate clio this weekend. And I felt compelled to join this forum to post a bit of useful/accurate "how to" information.

On our model, it a regular bog standard clio, there is no emergency release pulley or clip despite what the previous posts say. I phoned the renault dealership that sold us the car and they confirmed this.

It is possible however, as I discovered eventually, to squeeze ones hand onto a tiny element of the central locking solenoid that locks the fuel tank door if you unclip the trim around the rear A frame where the fuel door is situated.

On our clio (with the trim removed) we seem to have an airbag unit just the above the seat belt unit. To the right and very slightly up from the airbag gas canister it is possible to get ones hand in to a small gap (this will be directly above the fuel door. Here you can feel what seems to be the top of a small piston or plunger. This is the lock device for the fuel door which you can pull up. This should "manually release the fuel door and you can fill up and then sort the route cause of the problem.

DO NOT attempt to tear off the door, there is no way for it to come off without causing major damage despite what you may think.

Hope this helps

Vaz"

Johnrellis your pics help a great deal! It’s hide away and almost no way to see it! I just use my hand to feel everywhere until I feel the lever exactly like your pic. Salute to your extra effort to put up the pics!

 

[SimonT]

Hi John,

Your pics and info really helped. Managed to resolve this issue within 10 mins literally. Rang Renault and they said it might take a few hours to resolve and then we had to order parts. May need to leave the car over the weekend with them. I did as your pictures suggested. Removed the side covers, located the emergency release, opened the fuel cover, sprayed WD40 on the lock just in case and it is working perfectly. All up 10 mins. Thank you again.

Cheers mate. Saved me a ton.

 

[gphil1965]

Top man ...thanks for this .
My partner has an 11 plate mark 3
I had same problem ...got to fuel station to fill up and ended up driving home without getting fuel (and nearly empty) as fuel flap would not budge
Googled for help and found this write up
Got it open in 10 mins thanks to this brilliant write up ...pics really helped
Thank you

 

[Allison R]

Fuel cap stuck on Renault Clio Mk III (05 onwards)

This mechanism is a piece of crap - and so is the way the body is put together, thus it's easy to get to the locking mechanism in an emergency:

1. There is NO pull ring mechanism in the inner trim or behind the parcel shelf.

2. The Outer door trim on the fuel cap is only held in place by 5 or 6 plastic slides. Pull panel gently towards you and slide it from RIGHT to LEFT (towards back of car). It should move without too much force.

3. You can now see the locking pin at the top of the inner fuel door. Use something long and thin to move it UP.

4. Put the trim back on ... it'll clip into place.

Sorted ... at least until the next time

I have a 2008 Clio which I don’t want to spend money on unnecessarily. There is no ring pull mechanism in the inner trim. The steps above therefore worked really well for me. Thank you.

 

[littleg78]

This post - specifically the pictures on page 1 by johnrellis - got me out of a very tight spot this morning at the petrol station. THANK YOU!!!

I was able to open the flap by peeling back the carpet trim and feeling my way to the switch. Couldn’t have done it without the photos! Seems to be locking and unlocking normally again for now.

 

[N0ddie]

I had this about 6 weeks ago. Went to fill up on fumes and when I pulled up to the pump I couldn't get the door open. Limped home and Googled it. I've left the "arming pin" out so it doesn't lock with the car now. New solenoid required me thinks.

 

[Big Ben]

Had this on an away trip recently with car loaded up with track wheels! Not pleasant. New solenoid today

 

[littleg78]

Had this on an away trip recently with car loaded up with track wheels! Not pleasant. New solenoid today

How difficult was it to fit a new solenoid? My one’s in for its MOT and the fuel flap’s stuck closed again

 

[Big Ben]

How difficult was it to fit a new solenoid? My one’s in for its MOT and the fuel flap’s stuck closed again

Gave the job to Alex. Didn’t even consider having a go myself! Think it’s a quick job if you know what you’re doing

 

[Cehii]

How to release release the white part?

 

[kellyeagle]

Hi,

THANK YOU SO MUCH. FIXED ON SITE MYSELF!!




My fuel cap was locked and not unlocking even though the car was definitely unlocked. I tested a few things/ left it a day/ held the locking button etc. nothing worked until I found this post!

I ended up finding the release for the fuel cap from inside the boot. Had to pull quite a bit of the wall off and it was higher than I imagined but this was proper sound advice and you got me out of a real sticky sitch.

I took photos to share. I think my car is pretty old - like 2006 etc.

See snaps for more. It was at the top above the seat belt unit. I had to pull the wall and window frame section off too.

I thought I wasn’t going to be able to sort it myself but it’s was easy.

Now my cap isn’t locking and may not until I go to a garage but I’d take that anyway over running out of fuel or breaking it.

 

[MARK200AE]

Bumping the thread. I have 2010 CLIO 3 RS (3door)
Just got the empty charm and door refused to open.

Couple questions.

How to get the whole white panel out of the way so I can look at the area dead on, instead of blindly grabbing. Anyone have pics of this panel removal ?

And. I have tried to pull up the ‘plunger’ looking thing as described, but cannot seem to make it budge with my hands.
Does it need to be forced with a screw driver ?

 

[Kanazir]

I see that no one removed the cap cover and opened from outside? So the filler cap whis is in color of the car can be removed by sliding to the rear of the car, than you see internals and with a flat screwdriver you just push up locking pin. That is how I solved my problem. Good luck to all.

 

[MARK200AE]

I see that no one removed the cap cover and opened from outside? So the filler cap whis is in color of the car can be removed by sliding to the rear of the car, than you see internals and with a flat screwdriver you just push up locking pin. That is how I solved my problem. Good luck to all.

Sorry,
Are you able to provide a pic for demo ? I am struggling here with half the boot ripped open.

I cannot make the thing budge

 

[Kanazir]

I am out of home now, when i come back in 2 weeks i can post some photos and will try to make a video and put it ln you tube.