General: 850: Fuel flap locked

[beetle]

Hi

850 R 1996 -I've had no problems filling it with fuel...but yesterday, couldn't open the flap -since found out about the grenade pin in the boot and have used that to fill up. Been advised to simply bend back the catch so it doesn't ever lock, but would prefer to fix the motor ( if that's the problem? ) ..any ideas of where I can find instructions on how to do it

many thanks
Dave

[Mike Arnold]

Mine died on my C70. I removed the whole mechanism and then carefully removed the motor. Again, carefully removed the end of the motor with the brush assembly, cleaned them and the commutator and replaced. All OK since. Delicate, fiddly but do-able.

[Keith M]

Just had a similar problem on my 2003 C70, in that the lock would not open. Tried to prise off end cap of motor as suggested, but couldn't for fear of completely damaging it, so just dipped motor in cleaner and spun a few times, careful not to immerse plastic end. Lo and behold all now working again.
Thanks again all for suggestions over the various posts.

[RollingThunder]

Originally Posted by beetle

Been advised to simply bend back the catch so it doesn't ever lock...

Noooo! There is a pull loop behind the trim inside the boot that releases the catch securing the flap. You can pull that to refuel if you're ever caught at a petrol station. I've used it once or twice myself.

The issue is that the sliding pin that secures the flap gets mucked up with road grime and sticks in place. I sprayed a load of penetrating fluid around the pin and pulled the release loop a few times to work it around a bit. Its been fine ever since.

This is a '96 850R estate, but the saloons have the same feature