I own a 2013 Touareg. Unfortunately the fuel flap will not release open. I have tried multiple times lock/ unlocking etc... with no success. The low fuel light is on and are unable to refuel. (VW is closed for another 2 days) Is anyone able to provide a solution please?
Fuel flap not opening
Maria55
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Great. How did you find the part number? Did you partially dismantle the fuel flap assembly to find it stamped on your part installed in your car?? I'd really like to do mine. There might even be an updated version of the part but I'm a little scared to purchase something unless I know it will fit and work, so I would tend to try and find the original part number and revision number that matches my car. Anyway, any assistance you can provide would be very much appreciated. Thanks.
To get the part number I didn't do anything but Google using the keywords. When I had a part number I went to an online VW parts site, plugged in my VIN# and in the search bar put the part# I got using Google. The online site told me whether or not it fits my vehicle based in the VIN#.
As a side note I believe the part# is the same for most 2nd Gen (T3+4) Tregs. Latest version of the part# that I bought was 7P0-810-773-F.
I decided to swap out the actuator/lock today. Took about 15 minutes and was a breeze to do.
Mine still worked but I didn't want to get caught at the pump with a fuel flap that I couldn't open.
The only thing I didn't like about the job was that you need to punch through the plastic in the 4 spots to use a flat blade screwdriver to release the plastic cover, which leaves 4 small open holes in their spot.
I think I'll use some black RTV sealant to seal them up.
I didn't take a picture.
I used the video below which isn't on a Touareg but is exactly the same. Watch where he puts in the flat blade screwdriver, that's where you have to initially "puncture" through. Check yours out and you'll understand.
I don't look at it as "destroying" a part, more of creating an access point. Besides the holes made can be sealed up after the job and I have a new actuator installed.
Same problem with my 2013 Touareg. Tried all the below including trying to lever the flap open, to no avail. Then parked the car in the direct sun and let the flap and innards warm up. Hey presto, it opened. Now will apply lots of lube.
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Maybe a job for a hair dryer?
Update, even after removing the flap actuator and lubricating it thoroughly, the actuator would randomly refuse to unlock the flap. I found I could open the flap in that situation by giving it a sharp blow with the palm of my hand. Ordered a new one from eBay (approx US$ 50) and just fitted it to my 2013 7P. The new unit has a manual release cord attached. The 7P model does not feature a manual release, but I thought I would take advantage of the cord release so I found a way of running it from latch back through the rear panel to a small removable access point cover located in the luggage compartment. No holes drilled, no panels removed. I used a cable “snake” chaser and found a small opening from behind the fuel filler assembly into the interior towards the rear. Lots of jiggling to get the snake to pass (be careful as there lots of wires in there so don’t force anything). I had to add a length of cord to the supplied plastic cord as it was not quite long enough. I taped the loose end to the cover trim before clipping the trim back in place. In stall time 30 minutes. New unit works well.
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Further update, this is the old unit opened up for curiosity. It would appear the fit between the worm drive and the collar was pretty sloppy thus meaning in the retracted position the slider tang would still be engaged in the slot within the in-out plunger. When I applied 12V to the motor it only reacted sporadically, so maybe the unit had two problems, hence the randomness of its operation. The white grease is lube I had put in it previously so it definitely was not a binding/lube issue.
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That's wild, because the replacement that I ordered and put on my vehicle is 7P0-810-773-F and it did not come with a cable release. In fact it seems that on Ebay it shows some without it and some with it.
Edited to say: It seems those that have the cable come from China. I wonder if it's because they know the part will fail and you'll need it.
Edited to say: It seems those that have the cable come from China. I wonder if it's because they know the part will fail and you'll need it.
Luck of the draw I suppose. It is a pretty poor outcome for these parts to fail after only say 350 cycles (7 years x 50 tanks a year).
I just discovered this little headache with my 2012 TDI about two weeks ago. For what it's worth, I found out my fuel door will release when I hit the "unlock" button on the key fob three times is rapid succession.
I can't explain it, I don't understand it, I just know it started to work today. And, as usual with VW, there's no recall on it.
I'm curious to know if that method works for other users.
I can't explain it, I don't understand it, I just know it started to work today. And, as usual with VW, there's no recall on it.
I'm curious to know if that method works for other users.
Are we talking about opening or unlocking or both in the two posts above ?
My fuel flap is unlocked when the car is unlocked and it can be opened by pushing on it and it then pops part open and can be fully opened. With the car locked it does not pop part open when you push on it. I have not tried the 3 pushes on the key fob unlock to see what happens and whether the fuel flap unlocks but the car does not
My fuel flap is unlocked when the car is unlocked and it can be opened by pushing on it and it then pops part open and can be fully opened. With the car locked it does not pop part open when you push on it. I have not tried the 3 pushes on the key fob unlock to see what happens and whether the fuel flap unlocks but the car does not
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