Fuel filler door central locking

Rob McCool

Active Member
Sep 15, 2009
70
13
Birkenhead
I have had the same problem(intermittent problem with locking fuel flap)-my local dealer mentioned it during a service(it seemed worse after they said that!) I cleaned the actuator with electrical spray contact cleaner and it seems to be working better-I`m not sure if it just needed lubricating/cleaning but so far so good,,, :shrug:
 

noonoo63

Active Member
Mar 7, 2014
375
8
Scotland
I have had the same problem(intermittent problem with locking fuel flap)-my local dealer mentioned it during a service(it seemed worse after they said that!) I cleaned the actuator with electrical spray contact cleaner and it seems to be working better-I`m not sure if it just needed lubricating/cleaning but so far so good,,, :shrug:
It's a known problem Rob and should be replaced under warranty. Had mine replaced at my 3rd service this year in March

Sent from my GT-P5210 using Tapatalk
 

ali831

Active Member
Apr 19, 2008
103
1
hampshire
mine has started to make a funny 'twang' noise when locking the car. Fingers crossed it hasn't jammed open or closed but I have added some grease but it doesn't make the noise every time. Is this a sign it's on the way out or could something else be causing the noise??
 

chrisRibiza

Active Member
Sep 27, 2007
1,194
51
Mine started to screech when locking / unlocking when it was on its way out.

It progressively got worse until I changed it.
 

ShubZ

Active Member
Sep 8, 2016
24
2
mine has started to make a funny 'twang' noise when locking the car. Fingers crossed it hasn't jammed open or closed but I have added some grease but it doesn't make the noise every time. Is this a sign it's on the way out or could something else be causing the noise??

I'm having exactly the same problem. It's locked shut and takes 20-30 tries to get it open. Do I need to just lubricate the mechanism or am I likely to need to change the solenoid?
 

ali831

Active Member
Apr 19, 2008
103
1
hampshire
I'm having exactly the same problem. It's locked shut and takes 20-30 tries to get it open. Do I need to just lubricate the mechanism or am I likely to need to change the solenoid?
i just greased the part that locks into the actual flap which stops the noise. I am glad mine still operates as it should apart from the twang noise now and then when I lock the car
 

weasley

Active Member
May 19, 2017
137
4
South Oxfordshire
This happened on my Yeti, also a well known issue. When mine did it once I immediately replaced it as it tended to fail in the locked position. Easy enough DIY job.
 

ZK_FR150

Active Member
Apr 16, 2016
221
32
Had this happen to me last year, started happening intermittently but then one day it wouldn't open at all.
Had to call out seat roadside who ended up having to break the lock open and then the dealer fixed it through warranty.
I'd say as soon as this starts to happen look getting it fixed as it'll probably fail at the worst time like when your at the petrol station and then your sat round trying to unlock/lock your doors for ages hoping it pops open
 

Philh46

Active Member
Dec 24, 2017
81
3
Sheffield
Cannot understand why this has not been fixed by VAG.


Imagine going on holiday for two and getting back to all windows down on your car!


I read someone that electric windows will open automatically if car falls under water as a safety device to help people get out. How true this is I don't know.
 

Walone

Active Member
Feb 10, 2016
1,538
421
Near Heathrow
Cannot understand why this has not been fixed by VAG.


Imagine going on holiday for two and getting back to all windows down on your car!


I read someone that electric windows will open automatically if car falls under water as a safety device to help people get out. How true this is I don't know.

I think you posted this in the wrong thread!
 
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leon1p

XBL - dervturbo
Jun 30, 2006
382
0
Aberdeen
www.simplyrc.com
Just had this happen to me when i was trying to fill up.. Had to abandon the locking.. unlocking.. thumping process.
What worked for me was to push the flap in gently and then unlock the car.. It must have taken the spring strain off the soleniod and allowed it to retract. I shouldn't get too excited as I haven't put fuel in yet. I think I will replace the solenoid while I can still get access to it.
 

EddieP

Active Member
Nov 8, 2016
124
0
Coatbridge
Just had this happen to me when i was trying to fill up.. Had to abandon the locking.. unlocking.. thumping process.
What worked for me was to push the flap in gently and then unlock the car.. It must have taken the spring strain off the soleniod and allowed it to retract. I shouldn't get too excited as I haven't put fuel in yet. I think I will replace the solenoid while I can still get access to it.

I bought a replacement and managed to get it done in 5 mins, was quicker to order my self and replace than to get replaced under warranty

replacement part cost about £15
 
Oct 10, 2019
4
4
Just for information, to get the black surround out, it is far easier to use a flat head and pierce through the 4 clip points (pretty sure that's what they're designed for?). You get a flat head pierce it in, then lift the flathead up (so the flathead it going down within the clip), this easily unclips all 4 clips. Yes, you now have little holes, but I'd rather that than break clips or damage other parts. I think i will get a small amount of black sugru (just over the holes, not into the clips) and stick them shut again. This Job took me about 3 minutes.

If you just take out the screw (allen key) near the actuator, and take off the fuel cap you can remove the whole fuel flap system (there is flexible plastic which holds it around the fuel cap, just work it lose). Its a great opportunity to clean through the waste water drain pipe too (which mine had blocked). See attached images.
 

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Rob McCool

Active Member
Sep 15, 2009
70
13
Birkenhead
Just for information, to get the black surround out, it is far easier to use a flat head and pierce through the 4 clip points (pretty sure that's what they're designed for?). You get a flat head pierce it in, then lift the flathead up (so the flathead it going down within the clip), this easily unclips all 4 clips. Yes, you now have little holes, but I'd rather that than break clips or damage other parts. I think i will get a small amount of black sugru (just over the holes, not into the clips) and stick them shut again. This Job took me about 3 minutes.

If you just take out the screw (allen key) near the actuator, and take off the fuel cap you can remove the whole fuel flap system (there is flexible plastic which holds it around the fuel cap, just work it lose). Its a great opportunity to clean through the waste water drain pipe too (which mine had blocked). See attached images.
I used this method and it worked fine.I bought a small tube of black silicone off Ebay and covered the indent holes with it with decent results.
6842de191eb5324459c1dc41573d9d56.jpg


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Sep 10, 2021
2
1
They are at the corners basically.

It's pretty hard to get it off so I'd recommend a trim tool or something blunt so you don't do any damage.



Trim tool did the job thanks, the hole unit can come out if you remove the filler cap itself, then the entire assembly comes out easily. Fitted new actuator currently on part number 7P0810773F. Now fuel cap cover locking/unlocking as it should. If yours has locked up, persist with the unlock button, opened after about 3 attempts, whereas unlock/lock attempts didn't work for my 2013 MK3 Leon
 
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Maa

Active Member
Aug 20, 2017
19
4
West Mids
I used this method and it worked fine.I bought a small tube of black silicone off Ebay and covered the indent holes with it with decent results.
6842de191eb5324459c1dc41573d9d56.jpg


Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
Just did mine following your guide, was actually quite easy. Just a question though, Is the drain hole supposed to be connected to a tube of some sort? Couldn't see one.
 

Rob McCool

Active Member
Sep 15, 2009
70
13
Birkenhead
Just did mine following your guide, was actually quite easy. Just a question though, Is the drain hole supposed to be connected to a tube of some sort? Couldn't see one.
There's a plastic tube which attaches to the black surround.Any fuel spill runs away through it.

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