10 replies to this topic

[Rob Burgoon]

It's really difficult to pull. Any idea what might be the issue?

Also, is there an easy way to make a release that can be activated from outside the car?

[Jim Boemler]

It's got a sort of friction detent rather than a latch. You can take a piece of tape to match your car, and rig it so a half inch or so sticks out of the door. A gentle tug opens the door nicely.

[Rob Burgoon]

It's got a sort of friction detent rather than a latch. You can take a piece of tape to match your car, and rig it so a half inch or so sticks out of the door. A gentle tug opens the door nicely.

Not a bad idea. What if the fueler is wearing gloves?

[Jim Boemler]

Just make the tab a little longer; works fine.

[LarryKing]

A lot of guys run the cable out the back of the trim panel between the tail lights, making a loop on the end with a cable clamp. I see the same thing done with the trunk release. I haven't done it to my car because I have an open trailer that must occasionally overnight in hotel parking lots.

My guess is your cable is corroded making it hard to pull.

[davew]

We run pull cables for both the fuel door and trunk release out the trunk lock cylinder hole. After we remove the trunk lock cylinder. We use wire rope, available at Mcmaster.com. Then use red vacuum line for the fuel release handle and black for the trunk.

Check to see if your gas cap has a handle on it. Miata factory caps are flat on top. Many of the aftermarket caps have a handle that sticks up. The handle can contact the fuel door, putting pressure on the release mechanism.

Dave

[Rob Burgoon]

Flat top cap.

Is there an easy cure for a corroded cable?

[LarryKing]

New cable?

Motorcycle shops sell cable lube. Requires that you remove the cable so the lube gravity feeds the entire length.

[Ron Alan]

Got a few of these Rob...can ship if you want. PM me

[Tom Ghan]

I fixed my fuel door on my 92 yesterday. Next to the gas cap is a black pin that latches the lid. Remove the plastic nut holding it in place and from the trunk, fish it out by the release cable. Give the mechanism a good lube job and check the cable as well. I also removed the lid and lubed the hinges before reinstalling. Works great now.

[Rob Burgoon]

In typical Burgoon fashion I ignored everyone and fixed it by stretching the return spring. Thanks for the ideas though guys. I discovered it moved pretty freely without a load on the end, so I ended up just reducing the load.