(T) Fuel Filler Cap

Reflecting over the last 12 months with my wife's 1.2 Pop and my own 8 month old TA Lounge, I have a little niggle to impart. I don't know if it's my age and diminishing dexterity, but sometimes I have a hell of a job locking the fuel filler cap after a fill up.

Is there a knack to this as sometimes it takes me ages to get it locked ?

I must say after having driven a hire cars in the States (Fords) I am a fan of their system where there is no filler cap. Open the filler cap cover and you see a sprung metal plate. This can only be dislodged by the fuel filler nozzle and once complete it springs closed. Cannot be dislodged by manual pressure. I'm sure it must be robust and acceptable as the Americans would not have implemented it.

Wonder why this is not adopted elsewhere would save me a lot of embarrassment at the filling station.

I came across this thread the other day, hope it helps https://www.fiatforum.com/500/293587-fuel-cap.html

My post from that thread.

Also if the lock is starting to stick, it may be worth lubricating it (I'd do this with the cap off). A silicone-based lubricant is better for this purpose than the old standby WD40.

I found it to be an absolute nightmare to open and close at the petrol station when I first got my 500 mjet. However reading the thread posted above fixed it right up. Have no issues now. I found that the key thing was to keep the key (ho ho) in the lock whilst refilling.