General Capless fuel filler

[Mac99]

Hi. My new Panda Cross has a capless fuel filler. There is no lock on the fuel flap either. So in theory the car is at risk of vandals contaminating the fuel (I appreciate the filler mechanism should prevent access by anything other than the correct-sized nozzle but I'm not entirely convinced).
Also I'm concerned that water and/or dust could get in to the tank. I understand that some earlier models may have been fitted with a dust cap attached to the inside of the flap - mine isn't as the photo hopefully demonstrates.
My questions are...
1. Is it correct that my car doesn't have a dust cap? It's a 69 reg twin air Cross.
2. What is the risk of water and/or dust being able to penetrate the capless filler system - particularly as the car gets older?
3. Is it possible to fit a lockable fuel cap? If so, would appreciate details.
Many thanks in advance.

 

[chris3234]

Yes
2 Not a lot fiat have had the system for several years and never seen any reports of issues the cap/mechanism form a good deal on its own

And 3 unlikely as there's no where for a cap to screw on like older cars

 

[varesecrazy]

Our 2013 has a rubber cone attached to the flap.

Ive tried pouring a gallon can into the tank.. it spits it back.. so contamination risk is minimal.

There is a potential market for a basic locking plug.. but Ive yet to see one advertised.

Enjoy the car

 

[g8rpi]

Hi. My new Panda Cross has a capless fuel filler. There is no lock on the fuel flap either. So in theory the car is at risk of vandals contaminating the fuel (I appreciate the filler mechanism should prevent access by anything other than the correct-sized nozzle but I'm not entirely convinced).
Also I'm concerned that water and/or dust could get in to the tank. I understand that some earlier models may have been fitted with a dust cap attached to the inside of the flap - mine isn't as the photo hopefully demonstrates.
My questions are...
1. Is it correct that my car doesn't have a dust cap? It's a 69 reg twin air Cross.
2. What is the risk of water and/or dust being able to penetrate the capless filler system - particularly as the car gets older?
3. Is it possible to fit a lockable fuel cap? If so, would appreciate details.
Many thanks in advance.

Your car has a "dust cap" moulded into the cover flap. It's visible in your photo.
SWMBO's Focus is capless, has a similar "cap" and always clean.
You can open the filler on the Focus but have to press on 3 places at the same time.

Edit Have you actually tried to open the flap with the car locked?


Robert G8RPI.

 

[chris3234]

Your car has a "dust cap" moulded into the cover flap. It's visible in your photo.
SWMBO's Focus is capless, has a similar "cap" and always clean.
You can open the filler on the Focus but have to press on 3 places at the same time.

Edit Have you actually tried to open the flap with the car locked?


Robert G8RPI.

They do still unlock I tried with my tipo the locking/sealing valve is purely mechanical You can open it by pressing the tabs and pushing the central flap open hard to do without the right sized nozel

 

[Mac99]

Thanks. Yes - the flap pulls open quite easily even when car is locked. Was a surprise when we bought the car and smacks of penny pinching by Fiat. In pretty much all other respects though it seems a great little car so overall we're pleased with our purchase.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Do people still try to steal fuel or pour contaminates in? Did they ever? It seems to be a ‘mythical fear’. And the chance of dirt or rain getting in is pretty tiny too. More likely that the number plates get stolen these days...

 

[chris3234]

Do people still try to steal fuel or pour contaminates in? Did they ever? It seems to be a ‘mythical fear’. And the chance of dirt or rain getting in is pretty tiny too. More likely that the number plates get stolen these days...

Thank have anti syphton devices on them these days to stop fuel being stolen like that

People normally just stick a knife through the plastic tank if they want to steal fuel nowadays

 

[The Panda Nut]

Our 2013 has a rubber cone attached to the flap.

Ive tried pouring a gallon can into the tank.. it spits it back.. so contamination risk is minimal.

There is a potential market for a basic locking plug.. but Ive yet to see one advertised.

Enjoy the car

In the cars tools kit is a little plastic funnel thing. Its so you can shove it into the filler to top up from a can if necessary. It opens the filler neck as does a fuel pump nozzle. I have two one fits and the other is too big and therefore useless.... If you have a can for emergency use you will also need a good adapter or funnel and tube to fill up using the tool kit adapter as this is too small to tip fuel into from any can or. filler cap adapter I have. Dont run out!!!!!

 

[The Panda Nut]

Rubber cover is clearly just to stop water. After washing the car it ALWAYS has water on it so it does a job.

The rain guard had been deleted from our market.

I took the one off my old car. Fitted by using a new 13mm drill bit and cutting a hole to accept the rubber cap by hand.. Filler flap is very plastic and this only took about 3 minutes with no drill used. Rubber cap just pushes into the hole to hold it.

Caps are available from Fiat at sensible cost.

See previous post re opening the filler. It is so difficult without the tool its as good as locked to most people.

 

[varesecrazy]

In the cars tools kit is a little plastic funnel thing. Its so you can shove it into the filler to top up from a can if necessary. It opens the filler neck as does a fuel pump nozzle. I have two one fits and the other is too big and therefore useless.... If you have a can for emergency use you will also need a good adapter or funnel and tube to fill up using the tool kit adapter as this is too small to tip fuel into from any can or. filler cap adapter I have. Dont run out!!!!!

Where is the funnel stowed ?

.. the car didnt have a spare wheel when new.. so no official tool kit

 

[The Panda Nut]

Where is the funnel stowed ?

.. the car didnt have a spare wheel when new.. so no official tool kit

My last two had the repair kit too but this was fitted into a polystyrene tray. My funnel was in this tray in its own little plastic resealable bag. I think the second one was with the jack I bought for it similarly fitted into the moulding in the jack kit.

Incidentally I think of the two jacks I have bought for Pandas recently one was a 500L and one a Doblo jack. These both give the right lift for a Panda 4x4 to get the wheels off the ground. Standard Panda car jacks don't lift enough to do this!

I now have 9 wheels for the 4x4 including the space saver... I have decided to buy a proper car wheel that will fit in the wheel well as the space saver is 10 years old very soon. I may try a 45 series tyre on a 15" wheel as a full sized wheel did fit in the Panda 100 wheel well. The alternative is to chuck one of the off season wheels in the car if going away, but it takes up so much room its not really viable. Might also try a 14" wheel with an 80 aspect tyre. There are no rules on spare tyres at all and no useful guidance I can find. It seems anything goes.

Why Oh why are cars not just fitted with a full sized spare, even a cheap steel wheel would do.

 

[varesecrazy]

Thanks

I will have to look further

 

[Al D]

varesecrazy could be useful. Finding spacesaver and toolkit on a breaker maybe not easy.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Blue-Pla...254033?hash=item28025babd1:g:MPwAAOSw-vlVjVuX

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Where is the funnel stowed ?

.. the car didnt have a spare wheel when new.. so no official tool kit

If supplied with no spare, and so no jack, it should still have the rest of the ‘tool kit’ - including a double-ended screwdriver, the screw-in towing eye, and the fuel filler funnel. These should all be in variously-shaped spaces in the polystyrene tray under the boot floor where the tyre inflator pump sits (the ‘fix and go’ puncture repair kit).

 

[varesecrazy]

Thanks all.

Car bought used with an ad.hoc spare in situ.

I will have a look around the car for tools

 

[The Panda Nut]

Hopefully you can see the item in this pic including the water on it that it keeps out of the filler neck

 

[The Panda Nut]

Capless fuel filler filler neck opening tool

The funnel like thing that opens the filler neck if top up is required. Both my cars have one of these. You push it into the filler neck to hold the cap lock open. Its very difficult to add fuel as it comes out of a can faster than it will flow through this thing so a funnel and pipe are recommended.

 

[varesecrazy]

If it stops raining.. I will look for said funnel.

Car back into supplying garage on monday..

Still got the 'half.warm stutter'

 

[murphyv310]

This type of filler is fitted to Ford cars and others so let's not just say Fiat penny pinching. You cannot syphon fuel according to what I was told so in fact it's an ok system. Mine stays perfectly clean as did the filler on my 2014 lounge.
You can open the filler with fingers if you know the sequence, not something the opportunist would know though.

I keep the Jack, and tools under the passenger front seat.