Broken-Fuel Door Release

[stevty2889]

Stopped to get gas today, pressed the fuel door release button, it broke and pieces went flying..now I cant get the fuel door open. Manual says there is a level in the trunk to open it manually, but I can't see it anywhere, checked under the carpeting, checked under the spare tire, can't find squat. This is for a 1995 Thunderbird. If anyone has any ideas as to where it might be, would be greatly appreciated, otherwise I'll have to take a crowbar to the fuel door.

 

[HarryLui]

Short the wires on the broken switch?

 

[LTC8K6]

There's a pull thingie in the trunk for sure. I have a 1995 Taurus and it has the emergency release in the trunk as well. Mine is on the side of the trunk with the door.

 

[stevty2889]

Couldn't find anything in the trunk, pulled out the switch and shorted wires. Old piece of junk now has a full tank. Thanks.

 

[LTC8K6]

Should be a plastic T handle with a short cable right behind the fuel door. Maybe it's missing? But you should still be able to locate where it was.

 

[Raduque]

Man, same thing happened to the cable in my Altima that operates the trunk and gas door release. The cable's plastic mount/leverage points broke off the inside of the rear quarter, so the latch wouldn't stay in place to grab the gas door shut, and the cable had nothing to pull against to unlatch the trunk.

So, I had to remove the spring that causes the gas door to pop open because there was nothing for the door to latch to, and I also have no in-car trunk release.

 

[BoberFett]

I have a 98 Mark VIII which is similar to the Thunderbird. My interior release is broken also, there's a cable in the trunk just opposite of the fuel door. Because it's an emergency release it may be tucked up under something and need to be pulled out into the trunk.

 

[LTC8K6]

There's usually always a backup fuel door release. :biggrin:

It might be missing now, or you might not be able to find it, but usually it was put there at the factory.

 

[HarryLui]

So, I had to remove the spring that causes the gas door to pop open because there was nothing for the door to latch to, and I also have no in-car trunk release.

Velcro works great.