1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Broken Gas Tank Latch

  1. goaljnky

    goaljnky New Member

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    #6 goaljnky, Sep 12, 2012
    I could, but then what's next? Duct tape on the wheel arches? Red tape over the tail lights? Plastics bags when windows stop working? :devil:
     
  2. BThayer23

    BThayer23 Well-Known Member

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    #4 BThayer23, Sep 12, 2012
    I pulled the interior to drill holes for my coilovers - you have to pull a fair amount of plastic, and the Bentley is useful. But it shouldn't take that long for an experienced mechanic to do the job. Half my time was spent figuring out where all the plastic clips were.
     
  3. TexasChiliS

    TexasChiliS Well-Known Member

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    #2 TexasChiliS, Sep 12, 2012
    Mine (2004 R53) had it happen when new and was covered under warrantee. Tech told me he had to pull back seat and most of driver side interior ( Working from boot) to change out the solenoid.
     
  4. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    #3 Crashton, Sep 12, 2012
    No personal experience at it, but the above description sounds about right to me.
     
  5. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    #5 ScottinBend, Sep 12, 2012
    There is an emergency release?

    Couldn't you just remove the small bracket that locks the cover inplace and not worry about it anymore?
     
  6. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    #7 Crashton, Sep 12, 2012
    Every car needs a bit of duct tape. That stuff works wonders.... :D
     
  7. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    #8 ScottinBend, Sep 12, 2012
    But it is just the locking part that broke, right? Who needs a locking cap nowadays.......:biggrin5:

    But seriously, there's an emergency release for the gas cap? Where is it?
     
  8. goaljnky

    goaljnky New Member

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    #9 goaljnky, Sep 12, 2012
    I think it's the solenoid that is not unlocking it when the doors are unlocked. The release is inside the hatch under one of those access panels on the driver side.
     
  9. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    #10 ScottinBend, Sep 12, 2012
    Cool....thanks
     
  10. goaljnky

    goaljnky New Member

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    #11 goaljnky, Sep 15, 2012
    Last edited: Sep 16, 2012
    Here is a little video of the actuator. The removal is actually really easy. One torx screw and a small clip. Getting it back in will be more difficult as space is limited, but I think a coat hanger to help fish the wire through will do the job. The part itself is about $45, although RealOem.com lists it for twice as much. Bellow is a little video I shot to demo the operation.

    [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGPRPKf4l64[/ame]
     
  11. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    #12 Metalman, Sep 15, 2012
    Nice video Jerry.....
    I especially liked hearing you in the background....."Wave Woman".... LOL

    Is that the Bahamian version of "Swimming With Sharks"?? :Thumbsup:
     
  12. goaljnky

    goaljnky New Member

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    #13 goaljnky, Sep 15, 2012
    LOL... Yep... those are somewhat famous Bahamian swimming pigs.