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View Full Version : My 540i's Gas Tank Flap is Locked!?!?


SocalCalypso
01-19-2009, 03:00 PM
Okay, so here's what happened. My parents went out and used my car and they they wanted to put some gas in to refill the tank back to where it was. So, my mom pulled into the gas station to fill up and and the wouldn't open up. So, when she got back right now I went outside to see what the problem was and I see that there is a metal pole locking the gas tank flap from being opened in the inside?

Can someone tell me what I need to do to unlock it? If I can get it to work for me, I'll admit it would be a cool feature. Especially since people are stealing gas from tanks still.
free740il
01-19-2009, 03:03 PM
Just lock the car and unlock it :dunno
TWO TONE
01-19-2009, 03:08 PM
The Gas door lock works off the door lock. When you lock your door's, the gas door lock, and vise versa for unlocking.
SocalCalypso
01-19-2009, 03:08 PM
Just lock the car and unlock it :dunno

Thats the first thing I tried, but it did nothing. :eyecrazy

Is there a feature that won't allow you to fill the tank until the gas tank is half done?
PorscheH6
01-19-2009, 03:09 PM
The gas lock actuator is probably going out, like the one in mine. Pull back the right piece of trunk liner and you should see the actuator. Manually move it backward to unlock the gas flap.
SocalCalypso
01-19-2009, 03:15 PM
The gas lock actuator is probably going out, like the one in mine. Pull back the right piece of trunk liner and you should see the actuator. Manually move it backward to unlock the gas flap.

Is this a costly fix or no? Doesn't really matter but just want to know.
Frzninvt
01-19-2009, 03:17 PM
Like stated remove the trunk liner on the right hand side and you can get at the lock actuator shouldn't be much more than $25 to get a new one and put it in.
PorscheH6
01-19-2009, 03:18 PM
It's probably a costly part new, but it should be cheap from a donor car in the junkyard. However, I'm pretty sure there's a later model actuator, some earlier E34's I picked through had a different style actuator.

I just unplugged it and left it unlocked, since gas isn't $5.09 anymore, but it's still on the list of items to be replaced.
slocar
01-19-2009, 03:23 PM
Like stated remove the trunk liner on the right hand side and you can get at the lock actuator shouldn't be much more than $25 to get a new one and put it in.

It's actually 135 dollars ...

OP, go to the junkyard.
dhcomp
01-19-2009, 03:40 PM
the actuators can be had used cheap on ebay.
wastedincome
01-19-2009, 03:59 PM
Let me know IF you need a used one as I have a couple donor cars. I should be pulling parts this week end
SocalCalypso
01-19-2009, 06:20 PM
Ok, cool. Thanks for all the information guys. :buttrock


Let me know IF you need a used one as I have a couple donor cars. I should be pulling parts this week end.

Thanks for the offer. I'll be sure to PM you if I need one. :)
tonyroc14
01-19-2009, 09:48 PM
Thats the first thing I tried, but it did nothing. :eyecrazy

Is there a feature that won't allow you to fill the tank until the gas tank is half done?
thats the stupidest thing anyone could ever do...

sorry, but thats absurd
russiankid
01-19-2009, 09:53 PM
It could be that the actuator lost synch with the locks.
PorscheH6
01-19-2009, 09:54 PM
It could be that the actuator lost synch with the locks.

That was my first guess. I re-synced the locks, but no dice. Hooked up my multimeter to see if power was getting to the actuator like it should, and it was. I've got a faulty actuator; don't know about the OP's.
tonyroc14
01-19-2009, 11:01 PM
That was my first guess. I re-synced the locks, but no dice. Hooked up my multimeter to see if power was getting to the actuator like it should, and it was. I've got a faulty actuator; don't know about the OP's.
i say rip the door open, when you need gas you need gas
SocalCalypso
01-19-2009, 11:20 PM
That was my first guess. I re-synced the locks, but no dice. Hooked up my multimeter to see if power was getting to the actuator like it should, and it was. I've got a faulty actuator; don't know about the OP's.

Seems to be the actuator. Took off the trunk lining and saw the actuator and unlocked the car but nothing happened. So I pulled the bolt back and then locked the car. I saw the bolt lock up, however when I unlocked the car, the bolt didn't move. :( So, for now, its unplugged with the bolt back. I'll probably be getting the actuator soon.


i say rip the door open, when you need gas you need gas.

LOL, If it needed be, I probably would have. However, thanks to bf.c I didn't have to!

Kudos to everyone who replied!