98runner210

spunchy?

wow that's a new one

calib7

Ah Spongy?

arjan

Thanks, knew what I meant, spelling didn't seem right . Was too lazy to look it up.

bobs01sr5

Well that explains why I see Camry's all over the place with no fuel cover on them

98runner210

When I replaced my spring for the door, i found one in the HELP section (those red boxes) at pep boy's It was for a Lexus and was a little different. I expoxied it on 2 years ago and works like new still. I think it was like $2-3

Tacoclimber

Look for the package that says "Spunchy thing".

rdharper

So summing up... the common failure mechanism is not the cable, but the spring.

So if I go out an inspect the spring on the 4Runner, I might see its condition, and maybe what can be done to promote longevity.

Is the spring actually breaking, or just popping out of place.

rdharper

Hmm...... so I looked (never hurts to look). The "spring" is imbedded in a device that looks like the type used for door closed/open switches. Looks like it comes out easily enough, and might benefit from some lithium grease.

Not sure why they "break". Could be it will never be a problem out here in the benign california climate. But I greased it anyway.

98runner210

Sounds like you are looking at the latch. The spring itself has nothing to grease. I'll get a pic when I get home.

rdharper

I'd like to see the pic... mine is a cylindrical slide (spring-loaded) that is depressed before it catches, when you close the fuel door. It looks to be in good condition. But I added a thinn layer of lithium grease, then gobbed the whole thing with Vaseline for moisture protection. It should extend its life, as the only way it can fail will be corrosion caused by water/moisture leaking in along the cylinder. For all I know, its already waterproof... but what I did can't hurt.

98runner210

Stilla t work so no pic, look closer to where the hing is. That's where the spring is that pushes the door open. It looks like a piece of metal shaped in a V attached to a plastic piece.

ltbulldog23

Alright, so I got an extra set of hands to help and the problem is exactly what many people recommended. There is nothing wrong with the latch or cable mechanism, the problem is the spring that "pops" the door open when the latch is released.

My spring is broken in two pieces so for now I'm using the "ask a random guy at the gas station to open the latch" workaround. I'll see what they have at the Advance down the street, otherwise it looks like I'll be taking a trip to the stealership to pick up a random doohicky to pop open my gas deal.

rdharper

Duh... for a guy with genius IQ, I can sure be a dummy.... thanks for the clarification.

BIMsparky

My 99call 4runner has the same problem- BUT it isnt the spring or the release, its the hing mechanism. The hinge pin is bent and the spring isnt strong enough to push it past rhe stuck point. To get it open, I have to push the fuel door in at the hinge side to pop the strike side out of its stuck spot. Now it is resting against the release pin so when I pull the latch it pops open. Still training my wife in this method till I take the door off and unbend the hinge pin... maybe soon lol

Peacefrog53

Silicone spray. Worked for me.

94 Newbie

Thread back from the dead - proof of the search.

At any rate, my turn - I gassed up last night, and it opened fine. I thought I heard something/saw something funny when I opened the fuel door, and noticed a spring steel "V" laying on the ground. I picked it up, but did not see anything amiss on the fuel door, so I fueled up, closed it, and went home.


Thought about it this morning, tried opening the fuel door - NOPE.


I see This Pic (linky) online, but it does not show how this thing mounts - anyone got any pics ?

Thanks !!

Britt

ThorInc

^^^This^^^

I have had my gas door freeze shut a few times with ice, usually right alone the bottom and have had to use a credit card to remove the ice. Always an effort to get this to pop free by yourself.

94 Newbie

For those like me that like pictars , ...


Look at : http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...part-help.html







Now, you know !!

Britt

J2F42C

Toyota calls the spring a "fuel filler opening lid hinge spring". The part # is 77360-0E010. Retails for $3 and change.

TheDurk

I´ve been living with this for 4 months. I live in NJ so I just tell the gas monkey to hit it with his fist while I pull the lever. It always pops open. I went to one dealer but they did not have the silly spring in stock. I even managed a trip to Maryland by filling up at the last NJ service station and just making it back with the reserve light on. I´ll get to it eventually.