Hi Folks --

A newbie here. Be gentle . . . I have a 1997 850 T-5 Wagon. 150K miles. It's been a trooper, but has begun to have several odd problems crop up. Most recent is gas cap door that won't open. This has happened 2 -3 times before over 10 + years, and has always automagically self-corrected. No such luck now. Down to 20 miles fuel . . . so I pretty well have to get this resolved . . . uh, soon.

If I understand it correctly, the lock for this door is on the same fuse as the rest of the door locks. All the other door locks work using either the key in driver door, or the "lock" button on the dash. The only thing that won't open is the gas cap door.

I'm looking for a practical and enduring fix -- by that I mean, I am willing to just pull a loop wire (if available) to "solve" this, rather than have an expensive shop-fix. I am only moderately handy. Any ideas on how to resolve this?

20 miles left .... then I break out the bike . . .

Thanks!

Typical problem im affraid.

Open rear hatch and pull the rear RH pannel behind the light cluster away from the body to reveal the emergancy pull wire.

Then attach a long cable tie around the loop, with the other end in the hatch and refit the pannel, then when it sticks in future all you need to do is open hatch and pull cable tie :banana:

Big Ben -

You da' man! Much obliged. Found the panel and the loop. Door now open. Bike put away . . .

Follow-up questions:

1.) Now the door doesn't lock, but I know if it ever does decide to, I can always get it open -- just pull the loop. However, in this day and age of insane gas prices, can I find a locking gas cap that will work use? Anybody have any recommendations on brand, style?

2.) If I can get a locking cap, can I disable the existing gas cap door lock so that it won't trip me up again? Any useful techniques? Duct tape? Bubble gum?

Thanks!

Nice one, happy to help :beer:

I've seen aftermarket locking caps fitted to 850s over here in the UK so yes, they are available from somewhere, i'm guessing its a case of matching up the threads on the fuel hole to the cap and nothing more.

I understand your concerns, we are paying around 3USD per litre at the moment :haha: Chances are your existing lock will work intermittantly from now on. Mine went through a stage of only staying locked if i wanted to put fuel in, but staying unlocked the rest of the time... i think my car doesn't like me sometimes :grin: Hence the cable tie attached to the release wire trick. i assume disconecting the power to the fuel cap locking mechanism will be enough to diable it for good if you find a locking cap.

BigBen,

A very simple and easy fix to that, is to BEND down the catch-lock at the door-lid. That way, even when it is supposed to be 'locked', the locking trigger will not or cannot engage into the hole at the lid, and hence, brings about the effect of no-locking.

:)

No need to pull the wires the 2nd, 3rd or hundredth time.
Just the one time to open it.

I suspect mine is also jamming up. Soon, i wont care so much if it has truly jammed.
:)

they make a repare kit for this, search it on ebay, i sprayed mine wit wd40 and it works fine now. if your like me, you want ALL the features to work on your baby. :lol: