fuel door problem

[snowmant76]

i bought the car this summer and the fuel release botton has neve worked. I have checked all of the fuses that seem relevant and they were all good just wondering if anyone has this problem and a suggestion on where to go from here to fix it.

[Vizion]

Same thing happened when I bought mine....thought i was alone on this problem. I've had to use a key each time to somewhat 'jimmy' the fuel door open.
Not to mention the light is out on the dash (when the car lights are turned on) also.

[snowmant76]

Originally Posted by Vizion

Same thing happened when I bought mine....thought i was alone on this problem. I've had to use a key each time to somewhat 'jimmy' the fuel door open.
Not to mention the light is out on the dash (when the car lights are turned on) also.

There is a manual release in the trunk on the left hand side. it its a little cord that hangs down and should be labeled. it pops right open but the electronic component of the fuel door release doesn't work and i don't know why.

[Vizion]

Originally Posted by snowmant76

There is a manual release in the trunk on the left hand side. it its a little cord that hangs down and should be labeled. it pops right open but the electronic component of the fuel door release doesn't work and i don't know why.

So this cord is the reason for the light? Sorry, but I am confused.

Thanks..

[snowmant76]

Originally Posted by Vizion

So this cord is the reason for the light? Sorry, but I am confused.

Thanks..

no the cord has nothing to do with the light, i do not know what your problem is there. the cord is so you don't have to "jimmy" the fuel door everytime you want it open because"jimmying" is never ever good on something that you intend to use repeatedly.

[dmorlow]

Mine doesn't work either (the fuel door). I got it to work for a while by taking out the spring. But then after a while, it quit working again so I put the spring back in. I seen a service bulletin on this issue. I think they said it just needed to be lubricated usually.

[Vizion]

Where is the spring exactly? The spring inside the door or somewhere else?

[dsatt12]

I think he is talking about the little piece of spring steel inside the fuel door under the hinge side.

Mine used to actuate the solenoid to open it just fine, but the door wouldn't pop open.

I fixed my troubles by bending the latch part so it wasn't so tight against the catch on the solenoid and by bending the spring steel outward to give it a little more oomph when it released.

You could also check all the electrical contacs to make sure they are as clean as possible to help things. The switch unit (carefully!) pops out of the dash, then you can unhook the wiring harnesses for the trunk and fuel door. Check/clean the fuse and circuit breaker. I know it's covered by a breaker under the back seat because when I'd have to hit the button 10 times before it would stop working for a while.

[The Rebel]

Hey dsatt12, whats the deal on getting to the switch?
What to loosen to get to it? Also, you said, check & clean the circuit breaker...What exactly can I expect to "see" when I get to the switch for fuel & trunk? Is there just the switches or is their a fuse in the wire as well? I've checked the fuses by the drivers door
& relays under the rear seat. all good. Is there another area for the fuses? I checked those BIG fuses under the hood by the headlights (passenger side)... I'm having prob with the dead wire for the trunk.

[dmorlow]

Here's the actual bulletin from alldata... The pictures won't show up though in here.




1995 Oldsmobile Aurora V8-244 4.0L DOHC VIN C SFI

Top - Vehicle
Technical Service Bulletins
. All Technical Service Bulletins
. . Fuel Filler Door - Inoperative

.



Notes


Fuel Filler Door - Inoperative

File In Section: 10 - Body

Bulletin No.: 53-15-01

Date: February, 1995

Subject:
Fuel Filler Door Inoperative (Replace Solenoid or Reset/Replace Spring)

Models:
1995 Buick Riviera
1995 Oldsmobile Aurora

CONDITION
This bulletin references three separate conditions that fuel filler doors may experience.

Some owners may comment on one of the following conditions:

1. Some vehicles may exhibit intermittent operation of the fuel filler door release. Refer to Cause "A".

2. Some fuel filler doors may not spring open enough when actuated. Refer to Cause "B".

3. Some Aurora fuel filler doors may open too far and enter the swing path of the rear door. Refer to Cause "C".


CAUSE

Cause "A"
The intermittent operation of the fuel filler door release may be caused by one or both of the following conditions:

1. Solenoid inoperative.

2. The solenoid plunger may fail to retract due to excessive side load applied by the fuel filler door hinge spring (Figure 1). Refer to Correction

Cause "B"
Some fuel filler doors may not open enough to comfortably grasp the door and open it because adjustments made to the door occasionally change the shape of the spring and reduces the opening force of the hinge spring. Refer to Correction "B".

Cause "C"
Some Aurora fuel filler doors open too far due to adjustments made to center the door in the quarter panel opening occasionally, changing the shape of the fuel filler door hinge. Refer to Correction "C".

CORRECTION




Correction "A"1. With the fuel filler door in the open position, press the release button and observe the operation of the plunger. If the plunger is inoperative:

a. Allow the vehicle to warm to room temperature. If plunger is frozen in position, this will enable the plunger to move. Apply 3M 0846 Silicone Paste, or equivalent, to plunger. Operate solenoid to ensure that the plunger doesn't bind.

b. If the solenoid is still inoperative, refer to Section 8A-136 of the Service Manual for diagnosis of the power and ground for the solenoid.



2. If the fuel filler door is operable then, with the fuel filler door in the opened position, compress the hinge spring such that it is permanently deformed and has a gap of approximately 9.5 mm -10.5 mm (0.37 in. - 0.41 in.) (Figure 2)

Important: Care must be taken to avoid setting the spring gap below 9.5 mm which could result in the fuel filler door not popping open.

a. Close the fuel filler door and operate solenoid to ensure plunger does not bind.

b. If the fuel filler door is inoperative, replace the solenoid.



Correction "B"
Fuel filler doors not opening enough can be corrected by resetting the hinge spring gap to 9.5 mm - 10.5 mm (0.37 in. - 0.41 in.) (Figure 2).

1. Open fuel filler door.

2. Reset the hinge spring gap to approximately 9.5 mm - 10.5 mm to achieve the proper opening force.

Important: Care must be taken to avoid setting the spring gap above 10.5 mm which could result in the fuel filler door not popping open due to high side loads on the solenoid plunger.

3. Verify fuel filler door operation.

Correction "C"
A fuel filler door opening too far can be corrected by installing a modified version of the spring.

1. Remove fuel filler door. Refer to Section 10, Group 9 of the Service Manual.

2. Modify spring, P/N 25607681, as shown in Figure 3.

3. Install modified spring, P/N 25607681, onto fuel filler door hinge as shown in Figure 4.

4. Install fuel filler door and verify for proper operation.

5. Open fuel filler door and, using touch up paint of the appropriate color, cover any bare metal exposed due to fuel filler door removal.

PARTS INFORMATION
Parts are currently available from GMSPO.

WARRANTY INFORMATION
For vehicles repaired under warranty, use:

Labor Operation Labor Time

B6000 0.2 hr
Add 0.1 hr (For Correction "C" only)

Copyright © 2004 ALLDATA LLC
Terms of Use

[dsatt12]

The switch itself just pops out with the trunk switch and the little piece of trim they are in. I doubt it's bad since it's sooo simple, but you might as well check it since it's really easy.

I just checked that the 2 terminals up front connected to each other when i pressed the button. You can check for power there as well (it should likely be on all the time).

There is another set of fuses on the left side of the dash. You should see the cover with your door open. I think there is a fuse in there for this as well.

As for checking the rear circuit breakers, I doubted they go bad, but cleaning the pins and verifying that at least two of the pins are connected when I had it out was about all I did. It they aren't, it would have to mean the thing is permanently tripped (burned out?).

I don't think the big honking fuses up front have anything to do with this system.

Good luck.

[Aurora44]

The same thing happend to mi ne. My dad owned the car before me, and he got it fixed once and it broke again. Now when I hit the switch it sounds like the Solenoid operate, however the door fails to open. I have just used the manual one since it has been out. I would like to see if it is just the spring or what?

[The Rebel]

Thanks! dsatt12The trunk wire is dead...I'll trace it from the opening of the trunk switch to the fuse box and see what happens. yes the door has fuses on the drivers side ...they are OK!

[The Rebel]

Originally Posted by dsatt12

The switch itself just pops out with the trunk switch and the little piece of trim they are in. I doubt it's bad since it's sooo simple, but you might as well check it since it's really easy.

I just checked that the 2 terminals up front connected to each other when i pressed the button. You can check for power there as well (it should likely be on all the time).

There is another set of fuses on the left side of the dash. You should see the cover with your door open. I think there is a fuse in there for this as well.

As for checking the rear circuit breakers, I doubted they go bad, but cleaning the pins and verifying that at least two of the pins are connected when I had it out was about all I did. It they aren't, it would have to mean the thing is permanently tripped (burned out?).

I don't think the big honking fuses up front have anything to do with this system.

Good luck.

I now see that the trunk wire is a loom. I was told to follow the wire till I got to the point where it was hot again. example: from the trunk switch to the fuse box....any suggestions, as to find out which wire is the Trunk wire? color? (I'm trying to get the trunk to "pop" open when I use the button on the Dash or the remote.)

[Rezarecter]

you can actually disconnect the solenoid, remove it, take it apart and take the ceramic disc capacitor and resistor out of it, they seem to be irrelevant, mine did the same thing and we took it all out, and it works like a dream now.