Broken Fuel Door Lock...

Well, my wife tried filling up our car, and got a little rough while trying to shut the door. The plastic pin broke, and fell to the ground...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...o/100_0375.jpg

I was mad at first, but realized with all the work Ive done to my 4-wheel drive, modifying parts and what-not, I could fix it.... or atleast keep the door closed.

I went looking around at hardware stores, and couldnt find anything that was appealing. I looked at the parts stores, and found nothing.

So today, while looking for electrical connectors and wire to wire in the new LED brake/turn/tail and backup lights, I came across these...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...o/100_0378.jpg

And I bought some of this...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...o/100_0379.jpg

And here is my ghetto, yet simple solution.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...o/100_0376.jpg

I epoxied the magnet to the fuel door sorta above and to the side of the rubber bumper.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...o/100_0377.jpg

I know its hard to see, but there is a thin piece of metal attatched to the inside of the door, next to the hinge, that acts as a spring. This has to be removed.

Once the epoxy has dried, the door can be closed.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...o/100_0374.jpg

...and opened easily by pushing on the front of the door!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...o/100_0380.jpg

I would have taken it to the dealership to get fixed, but theyre crooks, and I feel that it wouldnt have taken long for it to break again. That is, assuming it wouldnt have gotten ripped off by wind or someone walking by before it even made it to the stealership.

Hope this helps others with this problem...

haha very nice, and cheap, fix to your problem. Congrats!

put in the how to for sure!!! nice!

Well, if a moderator can move it for me, I wouldnt mind seeing it as a write-up.

I give my permission if thats what it takes. 8)

looks good, done

Wow... that was quick...

I believe this was recalled....I had some fuel door recall fixed about a year ago, probably a little less.

That is a great fix. Way to think outside the box and come up with something original.

Ryan

Sweet..I almost like that idea better then the friggin latch...I usually forget to pull it before I get to the pump and have to go back inside the car to open the fuel door.

Nice job!

yal see the little rubber peice around the pin? well i saw that mine was cracking, so the dealership gave me a new one under warranty

Nice easy fix!! look at all these highly intelligent thinkers!! i never would have thought of that and just had the dealer rip me off!!

i think every one should check thiers, and get it fixed if its under warranty

if that happens to me, I will have to do that, thank you!

nice!!