Do you notice your Kia K5 gas door won’t open?
If you have a problem with your fuel door not opening, this can most certainly be an inconvenience. After all, how else can you get to top up on your fuel when your gas door is stuck on closed?
With this in mind, let us explore the reasons behind this issue and what you need to do about it. Let’s jump right into it.
Kia K5 Gas Door Won’t Open – Know The Cause
The gas door is usually something that many people do not worry about. After all, it is not typical for this door to be defective. But at the same time, problems do arise at one point or another. This is why when the issue does occur, you may be wondering what possibly caused it to happen.
First, let us try to understand how the fuel door system works. Basically, it is a tiny, square-shaped door located on one side of your car. When you open it, the gas cap is visible. Then, you unscrew your gas cap to gain access to the tank. Afterwards, you can easily refuel the vehicle.
Now, the door is there for a purpose – it is for aesthetics reasons, since it does appear better than simply having the tank right away. Moreover, it protects the gas cap. This is why people cannot simply steal fuel from your vehicle.
But if the gas door is having some issues, and you cannot seem to open it, then there are a few reasons why this happens.
For instance, the fuel door release is broken. There are many vehicles equipped with releases for their fuel doors. In the case of these vehicles, you will need to pull your fuel door release to open your fuel door. Typically, there is a lever inside your car or it could also be a button on your keys.
However, if this release is faulty or broken, then you cannot open the fuel door even if you try to pull on it.
Additionally, there may be external damage close to your fuel door. When you have recently been in an accident with your vehicle, the fuel door may have gotten hit. Therefore, it is no longer aligned, which is causing it to get stuck. In fact, just a tiny dent, as long as it is in a critical location, can simply smash your fuel door’s hinge and prevent it from opening.
You may also have some exterior damage near your fuel door hinge or in this part itself. As with any door, the fuel door has a hinge that allows it to close and open. So, if you have a stuck door hinge, or even loose bushings and pins, the fuel door will not be easy to access.
What You Can Do
With all these things in mind, let us look into possible solutions to this problem. If you have a Kia K5 gas door that won’t open, you need to have a mechanic check your fuel door. An inspection will be made to determine the scope of the issue and how much it can cost to fix it.
But in other cases, you can also try to inspect the issue yourself as sometimes, a simple fix is required. This can also prevent you from having to spend more money in getting the fuel door issue repaired.
For example, if you have a loose or damaged fuel door lever, this means that you cannot simply open your gas door from inside your car. Moreover, when you pull the lever too hard, it can simply snap away from the other parts of the assembly. This is why you will need to get this lever replaced.
Now, if the issue is with the release cable, perhaps it is damaged, then you need to have this component inspected, as well. In many vehicles, this cable originates from the fuel door lever and to your fuel cap door. Once the cable has gotten loose, or if it snaps, there is no longer any connection, which prevents the gas door from opening. The only solution is to have this faulty part replaced to be able to open the door.
In many gas doors, there is a spring allowing the door to open. But there are cases when the hinge or the spring gets stuck, preventing the door from opening. If the only issue is with poor lubrication, then you need to use the right product to lubricate this part to function well. However, if the spring is loose, it would need to be tightened. But if it is snapped or damaged, you will need to replace it.
Next, be sure to check the fuse. If you have an electrically-controlled gas door, the fuse is connected to a locking solenoid that causes the door to close. If your vehicle has a fuse for this purpose, it may need to be replaced when you are unable to open your gas door.
Lastly, you need to check the wiring in your fuel door system. If it is damaged, then it will not be able to function well when you need to open your door. A replacement for the wiring is necessary to gain access to your fuel tank through the door.
Read More: Reasons Why Kia Dealers Not Charging Over MSRP
Final Word
A Kia K5 gas door won’t open due to a number of reasons. This can vary from one vehicle to another, depending on the cause. For some, it could be a wiring issue while for others, it may be a blown fuse or some problems with the spring or connectors. This is why we recommend checking the actual cause of the problem when you are unsure of why your gas door is stuck. Then, you can proceed to the best troubleshooting technique that will solve the issue once and for all.