850 fuel door won't open

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LZR - 09 Sep 2006 02:54 GMT

I have a 1997 850 whose fuel filler door won't open. My husband went to fill
the car with gas this evening and couldn't get the fuel door open. The car
was unlocked; the trunk was unlocked, but the fuel door remained locked. He
brought the car home (with very minimal gas) for me to fix.

I locked and unlocked the car several times, both with the key fob and the
interior switch. No luck. When I pulled on the fuel door, it felt like the
lock was stuck or jammed somehow.

If and when you reply to this post, would you please copy me directly to my
email as well?

TIA,

Linda
Reply to: lzrandall@gmail.com

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Henry - 09 Sep 2006 09:42 GMT

> I have a 1997 850 whose fuel filler door won't open.

Sorry to say, but this is a FAQ.

(1) Read The Friendly Manual

(2) If you don't have the FM, try a google-groups search for a.a.v.

cheers,

Henry

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LZR - 09 Sep 2006 14:21 GMT

I already read my owner's manual, and it did not address this problem.
However, I did find a fix on brickboard.com and matthewsvolvosite.com.

For the benefit of the next person who encounters this problem:
- remove the trunk paneling covering the gas tank area
- look for a long, silver wire with a loop on the end (manual door release)
- gently pull the loop towards the rear bumper of the car
- spray fuel door locking mechanism with WD40

Linda

On 9/9/06 4:42 AM, in article 1hleb2h.1bblmb05qypduN%henry999@eircom.net,

>> I have a 1997 850 whose fuel filler door won't open.
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Henry

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Henry - 09 Sep 2006 17:48 GMT

LZR <lzrandall@comcast.net> top-posted:

> I already read my owner's manual, and it did not address this problem.

Bad Volvo! Bad! Why, once they had something right, would they change it
to make it less good?

You say that the owner's manual for the '97 850 doesn't mention anything
about the locked fuel filler door.

But in the manual for the '95 850 it does!

In chapter 5, 'In case of emergency...', there is a section for
'Troubleshooting' and on page 5-17 there is a paragraph titled (can you
imagine?) FUEL FILLER FLAP DOES NOT OPEN [upper-case in the original].
There one finds, with clear illustrations even, the procedure one needs
to follow in order to deal with this problem.

So...for future googlers who find this thread: if you've got a '95, the
info is in the book but if you've got a '97...

cheers,

Henry

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DE Retiree - 10 Sep 2006 02:07 GMT

And if that does not work, just unplug the electrical conector from the
solenoid and problem is solved. You just won't have a locking door anymore.
I did this on my '95 after multiple sprayings with WD-40 that did not solve
the problem permanantly.

> LZR <lzrandall@comcast.net> top-posted:
>
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
> Henry

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Stephen Henning - 12 Sep 2006 19:16 GMT

> LZR <lzrandall@comcast.net> top-posted:
> > I already read my owner's manual, and it did not address this problem.

> You say that the owner's manual for the '97 850 doesn't mention anything
> about the locked fuel filler door.
> But in the manual for the '95 850 it does!

The 1997 850 Owners Manual [which is at

http://new.volvocars.com/ownersdocs/1997/1997_850/97850_000.htm ]

states on Page 6:18:

"Fuel tank cover does not open

Faulty motor in fuel tank cover
(Sedans):
Open the cover panel on the right tail light unit and pull on the hook.
The fuel tank cover can then be opened.
(Wagons):
Remove the right floor cover (the center storage compartment must be
opened first) and the cover panel on the right lower tail light. Pull on
the hook and the fuel tank cover can then be opened."

If your manual doesn't have this then download a copy.

Signature

Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA, USA
Owned '67,'68,'71,'74,'79,'81,'87,'93,'95 & '01 Volvos.
The '67,'74,'79,'87,'95 and '01 through European Delivery.
http://home.earthlink.net/~rotarians/volvo.html

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Henry - 13 Sep 2006 11:49 GMT

> > > I already read my owner's manual, and it did not address this problem.

> The 1997 850 Owners Manual...states on Page 6:18:
> ...

Heh.

cheers,

Henry

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