gas cap door

[doc hemi]

I am unable to open the gas cap door with the floor button or the trunk release button.I hear it working but it does not pop up Any suggestions?

[macfly]

Maybe have someone activate it while you hold down the cap lightly to see if you can feel it actually withdrawing, and look in the crack with a flash light to see if the catch is releasing?

[EDEZ8]

On page 142 of the 2002/2003 Owner's manual, there is reference to a manual release as described below:
"Pull the (green) knob with the fuel pump symbol on the right trim panel of the luggage compartment." The owner's manual has a picture as well.

Hope that helps in the short term.

Update: Just reread your post and that you've tried the trunk release knob.

Keep us posted on the fix.

[doc hemi]

Thanks Andy and Ed I have tried all of that.

[jawz]

I had the same problem and ended up taking it to the dealership to fix. I could hear the solenoid working, but the door wouldn't open - even with the emergency release. I pulled that as much as I dared to but felt it would break if I pulled any harder.
All that happened was the cable that releases the catch simply became disconnected. I don't know how or why, but it simply disconnected. I was expecting the worst - broken cable or something, but once they checked it out, all they had to do was reconnect the cable.
I hope that helps and it's nothing more than that. You may be able to check it yourself if you're so inclined. If nothing else, maybe confirm it's only disconnected rather than broken.

[Norcal]

So, we think the manual release uses the same cable?

[jawz]

That's the way I take it and here's why: I could hear the actuator trip when the open fuel door button was pushed, but the door didn't open. This makes me think there may be a short cable linking the actuator to the door release, and that is the one that became disconnected.
Since the emergency cable apparently goes only to the actuator as an overide (in case the actuator or electrical system fails), it still would not trip the door release if the short cable is disconnected.
As I recall, I could feel the cable give slightly and heard the actuator rotate when I pulled the emergency cable (possibly tripping the actuator), but the door would still not release. If there is a disconnected cable between the actuator and the door release, the result would be the same whether using the button or the emergency cable release - the fuel door wouldn't open.
This is the only thing that makes sense to me. I haven't seen a schematic but that's my best guess. Any other suggestions?

My mental picture of this system:
1) Emergency Cable TO 2)Actuator TO 3) Short cable TO 4) door release.

[Norcal]

Hope this never happens to me on an empty tank!

[jawz]

You're right, Ian. It isn't something you'd like to have to do at some gas station in the boonies while on a trip. The thing that bothered me is I don't know why (how) it could've become disconnected. I had only been driving in the city at the time. If you have to get in there, be prepared to remove all the trunk panels on the right half of your trunk to access the actuator/cable area.

Maybe Dana and/or Matt can enlighten us on the linkage and best way to handle this should it happen at an inconvenient time. Well, let's face it...any time would be inconvenient.

[macfly]

I wonder if there is a way to push the bolt back with a credit card, or some similar trick, in case of emergency.

[Norcal]

That's what I was thinking... a mini slim-jim. We should all know how to do this.

[EDEZ8]

This type of a failure is one of those low frequency and high impact event. We've talked about a 10 years in service checklist, and the "assess the cable from the actuator to the gas cap door" may deserve consideration (or put a slim jim device in the trunk)...

[Lisa]

you would hope it wasn't that easy to open the gas cap in this day of gas stealing - just sayin...

[Norcal]

Sure, stealing gas from a beautiful Z8 would draw no attention!

[doc hemi]

jawz was correct. the cable fell off because part of the plastic hold down broke. It was re attached with 3 zip ties now the force is transmitted down the cable as it should and the cap opens. I had to take off the tire and fender liner to get to it. Sorry I did not take pic. It should have been a non locking door by design. thanks for your help