Ok when I started looking at 2nd gen 4runners I noticed a fair amount of them missing the fuel door. When I bought mine it was missing the fuel door as well. The guy said the fuel door wouldn't open so his girlfriend pried it open (breaking the spare ORIGINAL Toyota key in the process ) at a gas pump which broke the fuel door off. Replacing fuel door, no problem. What might be the problem as far as the mechanism that opens it? I did a search but all I could find was threads about adding second fuel tanks etc. I don't want to put my new fuel door on until I can get the latch mechanism to work. When I play with the striker next to the fuel cap it isn't seized up or anything and the latch under the dash pulls fine as well. Is there an adjustment on the cable I can make somewhere similar to how you'd adjust an e-brake cable?

Thanks a ton! You guys have helped me do a lot of things on my truck I would never have imagined being able to do

 

When I bought my pickup years ago, the fuel door didnt open very well at all. The pickups dont have a cable release, just a key lock on the door. I cant remember for sure how I did it, its been along time ago, but I just looked at the lock and adjusted the projection that the lock works against to get a little less engagement and that took care of it. I wish I could tell you exactly what I did, but I dont remember now but if you just look at how it works Ill bet you can figure it out.

 

I wish mine had the key lock like most of my Toys have had but this system is a bit different. My truck is getting an alignment right now but when it get's back I may trace the cable and see what I can find. I may just remove the mechanism, find a way to magnetize it so it stays shut, and get a locking cap.

 

My '94 does not have a cable to open it from the inside, just a simple key lock (keyed to the cab door) on the fuel door (which is on the rt side of the truck). It's a trivially simple mechanism; other than damaging the lock itself (so the key won't turn -- hence breaking off the key) I can't imagine what could go wrong.

Don't forget that the fuel door is part of the safety system; it's on there to prevent your fuel cap from getting torn off in an accident. Which would be very bad. So don't drive around without the fuel door.

 

Hm, the only way to open my fuel door is with the latch on the inside of the truck... I think it's a 2nd gen 4runner thing because all my 1st gen 4runners, my tacos, and my 2nd gen pickup just took a key to get the fuel door open but this truck doesn't.