Fuel door locking valve sticks inside body

[Phaxmohdem]

Every time I go to a gas station the fuel door locking valve doesn't emerge from its little hole immediately after I pop it. I have to bang on it, wiggle the bracket around and sometimes fish it out with a pocket knife for a minute or so which makes me look like an idiot (I'm used to that) and in the winter time or in-climate weather it just sucks standing out there.

I've tried white-silicone lube all up in the hole and plastic latch tip. I've even taken the bracket off and drilled it out an extra millimeter or so. None of these 'fixes' has made it any better. Has any one else run into this first-world issue? Do I just need a new locking valve? https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B7_A4-FWD-2.0T/ES438004/

[onedumslack]

Sounds like a new valve. This happened to my friends but we just cleaned it and put grease on it and it was fixed.

[DanKing]

Happens to me when the weather gets cold. I blow in the hole to heat it up and it pops out. Havnt tried lubing things up yet.

Wonder if there is a DIY to replace this

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[Phaxmohdem]

Dang. I've got bigger fish to fry maintenance-wise first (timing belt/trans juice) but after that if I decide to try the replacement I'l definitely create a DIY. I found this one: http://www.audiworld.com/tech/misc46.shtml and based on my preliminary poking around the procedure seems like it will be extremely close for the B7. Going through the inside of the trunk was the only way I could see being able to access the thing.

[DanKing]

Ohhh booo....I hate taking the trunk lining out its a PITA, plus I'll need to remove my sub etc etc :(

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[calvertatie]

This happened to my friends but we just cleaned it and put grease on it and it was fixed.

[80sGuy]

Dang. I've got bigger fish to fry maintenance-wise first (timing belt/trans juice) but after that if I decide to try the replacement I'l definitely create a DIY. I found this one: http://www.audiworld.com/tech/misc46.shtml and based on my preliminary poking around the procedure seems like it will be extremely close for the B7. Going through the inside of the trunk was the only way I could see being able to access the thing.

You can try removing the taillight assembly and see if there is access. It comes off pretty easily with a turn of a flathead from the inside. That's how you replace the rear bulbs, and it is literally inches away from the tank door...but not sure if there is some hollow-through.

[BenMTL]

You can try removing the taillight assembly and see if there is access. It comes off pretty easily with a turn of a flathead from the inside. That's how you replace the rear bulbs, and it is literally inches away from the tank door...but not sure if there is some hollow-through.

There is not.

[audiphila]

I had the same problem once. It even caused a warning light in the dash. I used the auxiliary release in the trunk and it was fine afterwards.