Floppy Fuel Door

Recently, I noticed the fuel door on my ride has lost its tension to stay open and flops around when fueling. I looked closely at the hinge assembly and can't see anything like a broken spring that would cause this, but maybe I'm (literally) missing something--any thoughts?

 

I've noticed this on mine as well. Curious to hear replies.

 

Can't the spring be replaced?

 

It looks like the little L shaped rod might function as a torsion spring, but it would have to be held from turning at the bottoms hings, so it develops torsion/tension. I’ll try to remember to check mine out to report back

 

There is a fuel door spring....but I believe it's only function is for popping the fuel door partially open when you pull the locking release lever and does nothing when the door is fully opened, it's the same part from 2005 to 2022.

https://toyotaparts.mcgeorgetoyota....yZC1vZmYtcm9hZC1wcmVtaXVtJmU9NC0wbC12Ni1nYXM=

 

There never has been any spring loading on my 2019, just friction at the inner 'loops' where the L-rod passes through. Never gave it much thought.

There is no spring incorporated into the door hinge.

 

Crush up some viagra and sprinkle it on the rod, may stiffen it up

 

I tried that and couldn't get the door closed....

 

So which 4R model has a locking release lever? Mine just pulls open at the fuel fill door.

The link's hilarious. $.99 for the part and $9.97 for shipping.

 

I don't know about on a 5th GEN but I have a 4th GEN and you have to release/unlock the fuel door by pulling a lever inside, I just assumed a 5th Gen was the same, but apparently not, but the spring/part is listed for both GENS, I guess it's a typo from Toyota.

 

Mine fortunately functions fine but i remember thinking gosh this thing feels like a cheap peace of junk first time I opened it up.

My buddy got rust within a month of his on the inside of those rivets which just looked bad. It’s off topic but I added some fluid film on s q tip to the inside of those rivets.

 

^this guy gets it

I just checked mine and it doesn't flop like a weiner in the wind, holds its position well. I don't see anything mechanical to do this, maybe just friction fit? I don't know what kind of wizardry they use. I'd offer to take mine off to figure it out but I don't want it to go floppy too

 

As far as mods go, a floppy fuel door wouldn't be the sexiest thing you could do to a 4R, but you would stand out in a crowd...

 

If you write up a how-to for the floppy fuel door mod then trail4runner may pay you for it!

If it really is a friction fit, you may be able to take some pliers and squeeze those rolled bends onto the rod and tighten it up again

 

same issue with my 2022 4Runner very loose wont stay open. dealership says due to normal wear and tear. for me its a design flow this doesnt happen with a locking filler door.

 

What sort of bs is that normal west and tear. Do you have 250k miles and opened and closed it that many times to come loose. Do these guys realize how stupid that sounds. We should start posting dealer names with these dumb statements. Do they think we are idiots?