Topic: Why locked gas cap isnt standard?

[21Rouge]

Is it a GM thing? In our 2000 Pontiac and now our 09 Chevy anyone can access the gas from the outside; just depress and out pops the metal cover for access to the gas cap below.

Our Pontiac Vibe has the release inside but then again this is a Toyota designed vehicle.

In these times I want access to the gas tank to be secure; seems such an obvious oversight.

Are there other brands that still do similarly?

[Squishy]

It might be an "American" thing, and I know the overseas version of the Escape had an optional remote release for the fuel filler door.

I'm guessing the big thing is cost.  Much cheaper to have a simple hinge and let the driver open it, than to have cables and springs running to the driver's seat.  Plus much of the States are rural areas, and if it's anything like up here, you're more worried about people trying to give you gas if they thought you were in trouble. 

Our Fords both have manual filler doors, as did our Pontiac Trans Sport (it's still around town).  Our Acura and our Mitsubishi both have remote releases.

[21Rouge]

It might be an "American" thing,

I'm guessing the big thing is cost.  Much cheaper to have a simple hinge and let the driver open it, than to have cables and springs running to the driver's seat. 

Our Fords both have manual filler doors, as did our Pontiac Trans Sport (it's still around town). 

Squishy does it not bother you a bit that say...goofy teenagers could very simply access your gas tank?

I guess I could look around for an locking gas cap.

I wonder if vehicles such as Escalades and Corvettes also do not have a remote release.

[Squishy]

We're technically a "city" but it's very much a laid-back small town atmosphere here.  Vandalism and other shenanigans aren't much of a problem, so I'm not worried.  We don't even lock our doors unless we're going out for more than a few hours.

If it's a problem in your area, you could get a locking gas cap or see if there's a remote-release retrofit available like there is for the earlier Escapes.  If everyone had locked filler doors or gas caps, thieves would just go to more drastic measures like poking a hole in your gas tank.

[overtakeyouintheleftlane]

I think it's a cost cuttng thing. My Grand Prix's gas tank door can be opened with your finger. Same with our 2000 Grand AM and my old '66 Beaumont (push the license plate down).

However, it doesn't bother me. If someone really wants to get at the fuel, all they need is a crowbar, jimmy or hammer and they'll get to it.

I'm glad I don't have it. On my dad's 2005 Civic, the cable broke and you couldn't get access to fill the car with gasoline. Cost $200 to fix.

One less thing that can go wrong in my opinion.

[rrocket]

It might be an "American" thing,

I'm guessing the big thing is cost.  Much cheaper to have a simple hinge and let the driver open it, than to have cables and springs running to the driver's seat. 

Our Fords both have manual filler doors, as did our Pontiac Trans Sport (it's still around town). 

Squishy does it not bother you a bit that say...goofy teenagers could very simply access your gas tank?

I guess I could look around for an locking gas cap.

I wonder if vehicles such as Escalades and Corvettes also do not have a remote release.

Why?  Is there alot of gas tank vandalism out your way?  Or gas theft??   

[sirAQUAMAN64]

This is the first car I've owned where I've been disappointed the gas flap isn't locked and there's that little lip to put your finger into to open (not the cleanest look). That was until I realized there's a mechanism that only allows it open when the doors are unlocked. Pretty smart.

Always found the non-locking type typically on domestic vehicles to be a very cheesy way to save a dime.

[sailor723]

Funny....I thought the same thing about my SRX. Then I realized..if the doors are locked the gas filler door is locked as well. Makes sense to connect it to the central locking rather than a separate lever and cable.

[The Mighty Duck]

My 1999 Honda Civic had a locking gas filler door.  My 2009 Honda Fit does not.

I find it very strange that while the Fit is miles ahead of the Civic is every other way, they cheaped out on the gas cap.

[Shnak]

I've never had a vehicle where the gas cap wasn't locked one way or another...

My '91 Passat had a lock on the cap itself, and all my other vehicles had a lock with a small lever inside.

Like siraqua said, I just don't like the look of the lip for the finger, it looks cheap.

I like the one on my inlaws' Mercedes the most... you have to unlock the driver's door, and then press on the other side of the hinge to swing it open. It's a super simple system that works well and looks good (no lip).

[johngenx]

I like the one on my inlaws' Mercedes the most... you have to unlock the driver's door, and then press on the other side of the hinge to swing it open. It's a super simple system that works well and looks good (no lip).

Mercedes has used that "dead-bolt" system forever.  It's elegant, but also means that a failure of the central locking system means no gas filling allowed.  When owners became frustrated with failing vacuum tanks (MB's locks were driven by vacuum) that kept them from opening their gas cap door, MB installed an "emergency release" in the trunk.  By the 90's, the vacuum system was reliable.

I don't like that little lever thing that our Corolla has.  I always have to go back into the car as it's the first car in some time we've owned with it.

[mrthompson]

Locking filler doors are a PITA when they freeze up in winter.

[Shnak]

Locking filler doors are a PITA when they freeze up in winter.

In 7-8 years of owning vehicles with gas doors that lock, I've never had one freeze on me.

Well, that's not true... the lock on the gas cap of my Passat froze once... I bought a 2$ bottle of 'defreezer' and that fixed the problem. Never had a problem with my other vehicles though, and that includes the '99 CR-V...

[Ontariodriver]

It might be an "American" thing,

98% of cars come standard with some sort of locking cap in Europe. Theft of petrol is common. thieves know which cars to target if they don't. Same as air-con, most cars come with that as standard and central locking. Here in NA they nickle and dime you to death with you can't have this, unless you buy that package. 

[mrthompson]

Locking filler doors are a PITA when they freeze up in winter.

In 7-8 years of owning vehicles with gas doors that lock, I've never had one freeze on me.

Well, that's not true... the lock on the gas cap of my Passat froze once... I bought a 2$ bottle of 'defreezer' and that fixed the problem. Never had a problem with my other vehicles though, and that includes the '99 CR-V...

Were your vehicles parked in a garage overnight?

[Shnak]

Locking filler doors are a PITA when they freeze up in winter.

In 7-8 years of owning vehicles with gas doors that lock, I've never had one freeze on me.

Well, that's not true... the lock on the gas cap of my Passat froze once... I bought a 2$ bottle of 'defreezer' and that fixed the problem. Never had a problem with my other vehicles though, and that includes the '99 CR-V...

Were your vehicles parked in a garage overnight?

Nope, never.

[mrthompson]

Perhaps the designs have improved?  I would regularly encounter frozen locking fuel doors in my 6 years (1993-1998) as a gas jockey.

[Winklovic]

My 1999 Honda Civic had a locking gas filler door.  My 2009 Honda Fit does not.

My 1982 Civic 1500GL had a locking gas filler door.  My 2002 Chrysler Sebring does not.  However, I was able to get a locking gas cap from the dealer.

[rrocket]

Perhaps the designs have improved?  I would regularly encounter frozen locking fuel doors in my 6 years (1993-1998) as a gas jockey.

Well...you'd likely see hundreds of cars per day....so it's no surprise.

I've only ever had mine free stuck once or twice.  But it was after a rain storm...and then the weather dropped below freezing.  Kinda like washing your car in the winter without drying it.

[PJungnitsch]

My Mazda has a remote release but it also has a key lock on the filler flap. Key access is handy as the remote release cable rusted solid many years ago.

As the price of gas goes up in the US, no doubt locking filler caps will become standard.