Remote Fuel door manual override?

[Londonguy]

On my last car, a saturn ion, piece of crap the remote fuel door would sometimes not open and I would have to hold something in place on the release lever and push. Has anyone experienced this yet with their rollas and if so is there an override button in the trunk or another trick to open it?

[gizzer777]

Originally Posted by Londonguy

On my last car, a saturn ion, piece of crap the remote fuel door would sometimes not open and I would have to hold something in place on the release lever and push. Has anyone experienced this yet with their rollas and if so is there an override button in the trunk or another trick to open it?

I have searched and not been able to find a remote release in the trunk either. If the fuel door gets stuck, I guess we will have to pry it open, which of course will damage the paint. Toyota dropped that one on the 2009 Toyota Corolla

[cabur]

There is no remote release.
I had to remove the trunk inner liner when I was installing the back-up sensor. All that's opening the fuel cap door is a cable and sleeve as in bicycle brabe cable.
If you really have a cable failure guess you have to remove the left trunk liner and pull at the cable. Liner is quite easy and straightforward to remove.

[gizzer777]

Originally Posted by cabur

There is no remote release.
I had to remove the trunk inner liner when I was installing the back-up sensor. All that's opening the fuel cap door is a cable and sleeve as in bicycle brabe cable.
If you really have a cable failure guess you have to remove the left trunk liner and pull at the cable. Liner is quite easy and straightforward to remove.

I figured as much after scouring the car and the manual. Thanks for the heads up.

BTW, I have broken many of those type plastic fasteners that hold the liner in, on other cars...Is there a trick to getting them out so in case you need to change a blub or heaven forbid, free the gas door....?

Still love the car though.

[cabur]

On the "rolla" those plastic plugs are just push in.
The first couple I use a small screw driver which is a bit slow. Later I use a plastic tie wrap. Just thread the tie wrap through the slot. Hold onto both ends and pull. Very easy.

[gizzer777]

Originally Posted by cabur

On the "rolla" those plastic plugs are just push in.
The first couple I use a small screw driver which is a bit slow. Later I use a plastic tie wrap. Just thread the tie wrap through the slot. Hold onto both ends and pull. Very easy.

Thank you for the quick tutorial. makes me feel stupid, but I didn't want to take any chances! For some reason with all the plastic these days, alot of the parts are "disposable" and once you get em out, they break. Just a pain!
Jeff

[cabur]

Please dont feel bad. That's what this forum is for. Help and share our experiences and stupidity and help each other.

[RealityCheck]

Originally Posted by Londonguy

On my last car, a saturn ion, piece of crap the remote fuel door would sometimes not open and I would have to hold something in place on the release lever and push. Has anyone experienced this yet with their rollas and if so is there an override button in the trunk or another trick to open it?

The fuel door on my 2009 LE wouldn't open the last time I put gas in the car. I could see the door moving, but it wouldn't pop open. After pulling the release about 50 times it finally opened. I'm not sure what I would have done if it hadn't opened, but I was able to fix it with a little lithium grease. This car is only two months old with less than 1,000 miles on it, so I'm hoping this isn't the start of ongoing reliability problems. The next day the volume control on the radio stopped working. So much for Toyota reliabilty. This is my third new Toyota (1989 pickup, 2005 Tacoma, 2009 Corolla) and all of them had problems when almost new. I guess the reliability studies showing Toyota behind numerous domestic manufacturers were right. I have had zero problems with my last few new domestic cars (2006 Pontiac GTO, 2006 Dodge Dakota, 2004 Corvette Z06, 2003 E350 diesel, 2001 Buick Regal GS, 1999 Camaro Z28).

[Cooper S]

Originally Posted by RealityCheck

The fuel door on my 2009 LE wouldn't open the last time I put gas in the car. I could see the door moving, but it wouldn't pop open. After pulling the release about 50 times it finally opened. I'm not sure what I would have done if it hadn't opened, but I was able to fix it with a little lithium grease. This car is only two months old with less than 1,000 miles on it, so I'm hoping this isn't the start of ongoing reliability problems. The next day the volume control on the radio stopped working. So much for Toyota reliabilty. This is my third new Toyota (1989 pickup, 2005 Tacoma, 2009 Corolla) and all of them had problems when almost new. I guess the reliability studies showing Toyota behind numerous domestic manufacturers were right. I have had zero problems with my last few new domestic cars (2006 Pontiac GTO, 2006 Dodge Dakota, 2004 Corvette Z06, 2003 E350 diesel, 2001 Buick Regal GS, 1999 Camaro Z28).

Toyota doesn't make the radio BTW. The LCD screen on my HU went bad and was replaced. They also took care of the rattle coming from the rear shelf which also took care of the headliner noises.

[REN69]

For the trim screws, you can buy trim screw removing tools, I'm sure automotive stores and places online would have them.

[RealityCheck]

Originally Posted by Cooper S

Toyota doesn't make the radio BTW. The LCD screen on my HU went bad and was replaced. They also took care of the rattle coming from the rear shelf which also took care of the headliner noises.

True, but everyone talks about how reliable Toyotas are, yet every single one I've owned over an almost 20 year period have had issues. There is really no reason for a brand new car to have any issues.

[trucknut1]

Originally Posted by RealityCheck

The fuel door on my 2009 LE wouldn't open the last time I put gas in the car. I could see the door moving, but it wouldn't pop open. After pulling the release about 50 times it finally opened. I'm not sure what I would have done if it hadn't opened, but I was able to fix it with a little lithium grease. This car is only two months old with less than 1,000 miles on it, so I'm hoping this isn't the start of ongoing reliability problems. The next day the volume control on the radio stopped working. So much for Toyota reliabilty. This is my third new Toyota (1989 pickup, 2005 Tacoma, 2009 Corolla) and all of them had problems when almost new. I guess the reliability studies showing Toyota behind numerous domestic manufacturers were right. I have had zero problems with my last few new domestic cars (2006 Pontiac GTO, 2006 Dodge Dakota, 2004 Corvette Z06, 2003 E350 diesel, 2001 Buick Regal GS, 1999 Camaro Z28).

OMG NOOOO not the volume control on the factory POS deck!! Does anyone really keep the factory decks in there cars? If i could have got my XRS without a sound system I would have, waste of money to pay even a dime xtra for 99% of factory systems...

[TnT_Corolla]

Originally Posted by RealityCheck

This is my third new Toyota (1989 pickup, 2005 Tacoma, 2009 Corolla) and all of them had problems when almost new. I guess the reliability studies showing Toyota behind numerous domestic manufacturers were right. I have had zero problems with my last few new domestic cars (2006 Pontiac GTO, 2006 Dodge Dakota, 2004 Corvette Z06, 2003 E350 diesel, 2001 Buick Regal GS, 1999 Camaro Z28).

Wow...you purchased all those cars brand new? Excluding the 1989 pickup...that's quite a few brand new cars in a pretty short period of time.

[RealityCheck]

Originally Posted by TnT_Corolla

Wow...you purchased all those cars brand new? Excluding the 1989 pickup...that's quite a few brand new cars in a pretty short period of time.

Yes - I buy a lot of cars. I get bored quickly. That's only a partial list. Since I bought my first new car in 1984, I've purchased 20+ new cars. This doesn't include a couple dozen motorcycles and used cars. Hence, I've had pretty good exposure to what makes/models have problems (at least for the short term, since I rarely keep cars more than a year or so).

Here's the cars I purchased new that I can remember:
1984 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 - multiple problems
1985 Nissan Pickup - No problems
1986 Honda Accord LX - No problems
1986 Honda Accord LXi - No problems
1989 Ford Taurus SHO - multiple problems
1989 Toyota Pickup - multiple problems
1992 Honda Civic VX - no problems
1992 Dodge Stealth Twin Turbo - many problems
1992 Dodge Grand Caravan SE - 1 problem several times
1994 Honda Accord EX - no problems
1999 Ford E250 - multiple problems - only vehicle to ever leave me stranded
1998 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 - 1 minor TSB
2000 Ford Lightning - multiple problems
2001 Buick Regal GS - no problems
2003 Ford E350 - 1 minor radio problem
2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 - no problems
2005 Toyota Tacoma 4X4 - multiple problems
2006 Honda Odyssey EX-L - no problems
2006 Pontial GTO - no problems (my favorite car of all so far)
2006 Dodge Dakota - no probems
2009 Toyota Corolla - two issues within the first 90 days

So far I've found GM cars to have the fewest issues, although the '84 Z28 had problems. Honda comes in second, followed by Dodge. My 2006 Dakota has been perfect, the '92 Stealth (actually a Mitsubishi, so I can't blame it on Dodge) was a pile of crap. Ford and Toyota are tied for last. Every single new Ford and Toyota I've owned has had multiple problems within the first year of ownership.

[joeylgarcia]

a slightly out of the topic regarding fuel doors.

have you guys seen that TRD Clear Fuel Door and Chrome Gas Cap for the celica years ago? i would love to get one like that for my 09 corolla if TRD has them. it is so cool.