Fuel Filler Cap on 2019 NX

[Steve Oliver]

Evening all. Was washing the car today and realised the fuel filler cap is basically not holding itself shut. On investigating the mechanism, I always thought that it had a push to release latch which locks when you lock the car, but it seems that there is no real push to release, all the pushing action does when the car is unlocked is make it pop out for you to grab. Actually you could just use your fingers if you wanted as it doesn't 'latch'. 

Is everyone else's like this or am I missing something? Shouldn't it latch shut normally?

Thoughts on a postcard please... 👍

[RONNIE W HODGEKINSON]

5 hours ago, Steve Oliver said:

Evening all. Was washing the car today and realised the fuel filler cap is basically not holding itself shut. On investigating the mechanism, I always thought that it had a push to release latch which locks when you lock the car, but it seems that there is no real push to release, all the pushing action does when the car is unlocked is make it pop out for you to grab. Actually you could just use your fingers if you wanted as it doesn't 'latch'. 

Is everyone else's like this or am I missing something? Shouldn't it latch shut normally?

Thoughts on a postcard please... 👍

Must Check this out Steve..Like you i thought it had a push latch mechanism Which held it shut when car unlocked..Really Must check this out.. Will Let You Know..Ron

[Steve Oliver]

59 minutes ago, RONNIE W HODGEKINSON said:

Must Check this out Steve..Like you i thought it had a push latch mechanism Which held it shut when car unlocked..Really Must check this out.. Will Let You Know..Ron

Thanks Ron 👍

[RONNIE W HODGEKINSON]

Steve.. Have just checked my fuel cap lock and The fuel compartment lid will definately NOT open when the car is locked...So when i press the unlock button on the key fob i can hear clearly an unlock sound coming from The fuel cap lid Keeping the lid open i then locked the car and can see the mechanism working just directly above the conical rubber micro switch which monitors opening and closing the compartment....I had a similar problem with my Skoda Octavia and had to pour boiling water on to the mechanism to get it to work WD 40 might also help here..Eventually the problem cleared of its own accord.. You might want to try that ...Remember the purpose of the locking mechanism is to protect the fuel system from anyone putting any foreign material in to your system  I would definately get this looked at ..Any mechanic worth his salt would be able to fix this for you..Hope that helps..Failing all else take it to your Lexus Dealer  Regards..R

[Steve Oliver]

6 hours ago, RONNIE W HODGEKINSON said:

Steve.. Have just checked my fuel cap lock and The fuel compartment lid will definately NOT open when the car is locked...So when i press the unlock button on the key fob i can hear clearly an unlock sound coming from The fuel cap lid Keeping the lid open i then locked the car and can see the mechanism working just directly above the conical rubber micro switch which monitors opening and closing the compartment....I had a similar problem with my Skoda Octavia and had to pour boiling water on to the mechanism to get it to work WD 40 might also help here..Eventually the problem cleared of its own accord.. You might want to try that ...Remember the purpose of the locking mechanism is to protect the fuel system from anyone putting any foreign material in to your system  I would definately get this looked at ..Any mechanic worth his salt would be able to fix this for you..Hope that helps..Failing all else take it to your Lexus Dealer  Regards..R

Hi Ron, thanks for looking. My lock does work when I lock the car. But if your car is locked, can you just pull the flap open with your fingers or do you have to push it in to get it to pop out? IE. Is it held in place at all when your car is not locked? Mine isn't, only when I lock the car.

[RONNIE W HODGEKINSON]

Steve ...When the car is locked you CANT Force the fuel compartment open as a round bar protrudes to lock the car when unlocked the bar is retracted and does not hold the flap shut..Hope that helps.. Regards ..Ron

[Steve Oliver]

3 hours ago, RONNIE W HODGEKINSON said:

Steve ...When the car is locked you CANT Force the fuel compartment open as a round bar protrudes to lock the car when unlocked the bar is retracted and does not hold the flap shut..Hope that helps.. Regards ..Ron

Yes, it's when it's unlocked I'm trying to confirm whether anything holds it shut AT ALL... as if not, nothing really stops it from almost blowing open!

Cheers

[Tel]

Mine can only be opened by touching the rear of the Flap & I hear a click when I close said Flap with the Ignition off.

Tel

[RONNIE W HODGEKINSON]

5 hours ago, Steve Oliver said:

Yes, it's when it's unlocked I'm trying to confirm whether anything holds it shut AT ALL... as if not, nothing really stops it from almost blowing open!

Cheers

Has it ever blown open steve..? When the car is unlocked to open the flap simply press down RH side and it will spring open at least thats what mine does..when refuelled just push the flap back to its normal position And you should feel a little click which holds it shut.. Do You Think we.ll get a job At Nasa...lol

[wharfhouse]

8 hours ago, Steve Oliver said:

Yes, it's when it's unlocked I'm trying to confirm whether anything holds it shut AT ALL... as if not, nothing really stops it from almost blowing open!

Cheers

I have an IS 300h but IIRC from courtesy cars I've had the fuel filler flap is same on NX 300h. I can confirm that on my IS 300h the following:

- car unlocked while parked - press on the fuel flap and it's pushed out for ease of opening by the plunger - push closed against the plunger spring - this works like kitchen cupboard doors though - the plunger simply aids opening - you can also just put your finger nail behind the flap and open it without needing to press it first if the doors are unlocked 

- car locked when parked - a small bar (sited below the plunger) moves across into a hole in the flap to lock the flap when the doors are locked so the flap can't be opened at all when the doors are locked

- while driving - assuming you have the doors set to lock when you move into D / drive off then this will also lock the fuel flap as well and so it can't open on its own while driving until you stop and put the car in P at which time the doors and fuel flap unlock

That's how mine behaves - hope that all makes sense. 

[Steve Oliver]

6 hours ago, wharfhouse said:

I have an IS 300h but IIRC from courtesy cars I've had the fuel filler flap is same on NX 300h. I can confirm that on my IS 300h the following:

- car unlocked while parked - press on the fuel flap and it's pushed out for ease of opening by the plunger - push closed against the plunger spring - this works like kitchen cupboard doors though - the plunger simply aids opening - you can also just put your finger nail behind the flap and open it without needing to press it first if the doors are unlocked 

- car locked when parked - a small bar (sited below the plunger) moves across into a hole in the flap to lock the flap when the doors are locked so the flap can't be opened at all when the doors are locked

- while driving - assuming you have the doors set to lock when you move into D / drive off then this will also lock the fuel flap as well and so it can't open on its own while driving until you stop and put the car in P at which time the doors and fuel flap unlock

That's how mine behaves - hope that all makes sense. 

And that ^^ is exactly what I'm seeing too. I'm really surprised that when the car isn't locked, nothing really holds the flap shut! Cheers 👍

[Steve Oliver]

8 hours ago, RONNIE W HODGEKINSON said:

Has it ever blown open steve..? When the car is unlocked to open the flap simply press down RH side and it will spring open at least thats what mine does..when refuelled just push the flap back to its normal position And you should feel a little click which holds it shut.. Do You Think we.ll get a job At Nasa...lol

... No little click which holds it shut... but no it hasn't actually blown open. See wharfhouse's message above. THAT'S what's happening...! Cheers for your comments 👍

[wharfhouse]

8 hours ago, Steve Oliver said:

And that ^^ is exactly what I'm seeing too. I'm really surprised that when the car isn't locked, nothing really holds the flap shut! Cheers 👍

I'm sure that's as it's designed - if you look carefully there is nothing that the flap can latch into when unlocked other than when the doors are locked and the pin slides across to lock the flap shut.

For anyone interested, open the filler flap and you can press the plunger in and out without using the door and with the flap open lock the doors and you will see the pin slide across that engages with the flap when it's closed as the doors lock.

I haven't had any issues with it opening on its own and I've had my car 6 years now. 

[RONNIE W HODGEKINSON]

11 hours ago, Steve Oliver said:

... No little click which holds it shut... but no it hasn't actually blown open. See wharfhouse's message above. THAT'S what's happening...! Cheers for your comments 👍

Steve.. I Can Really Understand your Absolute frustration with this and i know exactly what you are Saying.. so as long as it does,not blow open forget about it ..It will really Annoy you as you get more and more focused on it..  I have done the same in the past but learned There are things in life you just have to move on with.Peace Brother ...Bet you win the lottery This week...lol

[Steve Oliver]

8 hours ago, RONNIE W HODGEKINSON said:

Steve.. I Can Really Understand your Absolute frustration with this and i know exactly what you are Saying.. so as long as it does,not blow open forget about it ..It will really Annoy you as you get more and more focused on it..  I have done the same in the past but learned There are things in life you just have to move on with.Peace Brother ...Bet you win the lottery This week...lol

I'd have to enter first! 😁