Fuel door will not shut!

efurlong

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Hello all - I just filled up my 13 GT500...believe it or not - my fuel door will not shut all the way...it stays open about a quarter of an inch. I brought it to the Ford dealer - three people looked at it including two mechanics...none of them have ever seen this. One said something seems bent. There is no way anything is bent. Car has 16k miles - I'm the only one to put gas in it. Car is still on warranty - but I'd rather research and fix myself. Has anybody here ever heard of this? Thanks
 

Zemedici

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Can you take picture?

As far as i know the door is a separate piece from the housing / hinge. Replacement would seem pretty straightforward i imagine

@bdcardinal any insight?
 

Bearbo

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My Dad would say it is not broke you just need a bigger hammer. I just looked at mine. Only two parts really. The fuel door which has the hinge and the rubber push button latch/spring. If it is staying open it would seem to be the rubber button spring. Can you push in it? It should push in and lock flush then fuel door closes flush.

Of course there is the billet option or the big hammer option.
 

Snoopy49

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Have the Ford dealer remove the door and have them check the hinge assembly. It looks like the latch mechanism may be in the hinge. There are 2 screws that attach the door assembly to the body. I don't know if you can remove it without first removing the $111.00 plastic cup housing.

This video shows how to remove the fuel door, it also talks about removing the plastic cup, this will prevent reinstallation of the cup and you will have to buy a new one.

 

Snoopy49

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My Dad would say it is not broke you just need a bigger hammer. I just looked at mine. Only two parts really. The fuel door which has the hinge and the rubber push button latch/spring. If it is staying open it would seem to be the rubber button spring. Can you push in it? It should push in and lock flush then fuel door closes flush.

Of course there is the billet option or the big hammer option.

I think the rubber push button latch/spring is just a spring that allows the door to be pushed in far enough to unlatch the door and then push it out and away from the body. I think the latch mechanism is located in the door hinge assembly.
 

Bearbo

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I agree completely with Snoopy49. OP needs to post pic to show how far door is sticking out. I just noticed on mine the fuel door swings smoothly till it hits the rubber spring. If I push spring in, fuel door goes flush. If there is not a piece of trash then there could/should only be a problem with hinge assembly which as usually, you posted a helpful video.

Snoopy49 for the win.
 

tomshep

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Study it closely. It can only be the door hinge or the black plunger for the door. The plunger is part of the complete black housing assembly that goes all the way to the fuel neck. Hopefully the hinge didn't get sprung.

Tom
 

efurlong

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IMG_3493.jpg
Hello All - Thank for all the most excellent responses and help...Haven't had any time to address my the door issue yet due to eye surgery today. Here is an image of my fuel door. If I force it flush...it will not "latch" in it's closed position.
 

Bearbo

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Did you steal a stop sign? Sorry to hear about eye surgery. Hope all is well.
 

efurlong

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No - I got the stop sign from my dad's garage. I's an obsolete Massachusetts sign. Eye on the mend. Still blown away by the fuel door though. I've never used my extended warranty...until now. I have an appointment Thursday.
 

Bearbo

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Secretly hoping for a bizarre stop sign story. Again, great luck with the eye and the extended warranty visit Thursday.

Of course, you could just cut your losses and part it out.
 

Snoopy49

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There is no wiring associated with the plunger and door latch. Plunger is just spring loaded and prevents the door from rattling when it is latched and pushes the door open when it is unlatched and the latch appears to be a mechanical latch.
 

efurlong

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Hello All - here is the update...The Ford dealer (in all their wisdom) determined I need a "complete new fuel door assembly". They also stated it'll need to be painted - and blended, as there is no way to match my color. BTW this would not be covered under my Ford premium care warranty... the fix would cost me in the neighborhood of $1500.00. I flipped out - took my car back and brought it to a body shop. It turned out to be a dislodged spring in the hinge assembly. Fixed at no charge. Terrible - pathetic service at the Ford dealer. Lesson learned.
 

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