'90 Gas Cover

[Chapol]

On my 1990 Camry, the gas cover won't open when I pull the lever on the lower left of the driver seat. Probably the cable came lose at the lever. Does anyone know a fix? Presently, I have to get to the door thru the trunk, a real pain.

[Brian R.]

Might be the spring that opens the door is broken. Does the door spring open when you open through the trunk or do you have to push it open? If you have to push it open, then it is the spring on the hinge. If it springs open readily when you pull on the cable or the latch, then it is the cable either broken or dissattached.

[Chapol]

The gas door pops open easily when I push the latch release from inside the trunk. Maybe I can juri-rig something permanent from inside the trunk. I can't see an easy way to attach the cable inside the car at the driver seat, as everything is covered.

[Chapol]

Plus, when I pull on the lever inside the car, I get no resistance like I used to get. Seems like a detatched cable.

[Brian R.]

Probably, or a broken one.

[Chapol]

Just a followup: I just got around to tinkering with the gas door, as I was getting tired of opening the trunk, moving panels aside, etc. every time I needed gas. When I pulled on the opener lever under the front seat I heard it click in back. I disassembled the latch/spring behind the cover and found the cable intact, so I inserted a rubber spacer to take up slack in the cable. Seems to be working for now. I need to find a better fix than a rubber (faucet washer), but for now I can get gassed up again!