Opel GT Gas cap Woes

[barericks]

I recently purchased a 71 GT and I can't get the gas cap off. I used to services these cars when they were new and if my memory serves me correct, you had to hold the cap and turn the key against the spring pressure inside the cap to allow it to release. Well..........I've done this at least a dozen times and there is no damn way that cap is comming off. I can feel the tangs at the bottom are still holding it secure to the inlet flange. What's next ? Can I go in through the inside compartment and use a socket and extention to remove the clamp around the inlet hose ? So if this gets the cap off how can I restore the key cylinder to make it work properly ? I doused it with WD-40 a few times and still to no avail. Any ideas anyone ?

[namba209]

I just tried the gas cap and key on Willit? to see what is required to take off the cap. Here's the drill: Insert key and rotate counterclockwise 180 degrees until it stops. Turn cap counterclockwise until the interal locks take hold, then turn cap counterclockwise until the external tangs allow you to remove the cap. A slight downward force may be needed while turning the cap. With the cap locked, the cap will just spin and have no effect on the external tangs holding the cap inside the filler neck. HTH.

[heimue]

You have two different positions:
- the gas cap spins freely. That means it is locked.
- the gas cap does not spin freely. Turn it CCW to open.

If it is locked, stick in the key, turn it 180 degrees (I don't know what direction - you find it out) and remove the key. The gas cap is now unlocked.

Dieter

[ungermm]

In locked position ( cap spins) insert key, turn counter clockwise 180 degrees and then rotate cap 180 degrees counter clockwise. That how mine comes off.

[markandson]

Sounds like he might have the wrong key, or the cap is broken, either way it is not good news. If it just spins and spins, you can swing the Blitz part out of the way, drill a small hole (like 1/8") down through the cap and into the brass plate that is below it, then stick something in the hole, like the drill you used to drill the hole, back end in first like a dowel, and then spin the whole thing off.

[barericks]

To all of those who offered suggestions on how the "locked cap" is supposed to open I want to say "Thank You". I turned the key c/c and then the cap c/w and boom there it was. So damn simple it was embarrasing .
Thanks to all...............Barericks

[namba209]

Glad we were of assistance, but turning the cap clockwise should have locked it back in the filler neck. Wierd, maybe the PO changed the filler neck.

[West Coast GT]

"... So damn simple it was embarrassing ."

And there it is. We get all full of ourselves; thinking we know it all, then we go and do something like this. Sometimes I pull something so ridiculous I feel like I must be the village idiot gone missing and everyone's too polite to tell me.

It's good to know your cap is functioning properly.

[heimue]

Originally Posted by barericks So damn simple it was embarrasing....Barericks

Barericks, you don't know anything about embarrassing. Read post #8 in this thread: 5speed Getrag

Dieter