Has anyone had issues getting the aluminum fuel door open in this cold weather? Mine is a massive pain in the a** to get open.

Anyways, has anyone had similar issues? I'm going to mess around with it in the future to see if I can make it work better. I am wondering if the cabling system has too much slack in it, or the door hinge is just needs some lubrication.

For people with the standard fuel door, is it easy to open? I might check my local dealer, to see if I could buy the standard door, if it makes a difference.

 

No problems with the standard door, ever, even after a car wash in -20 degC (zero degF) weather. If you bought the alloy fuel door, then your dealer should have given you the original fuel door -- buying the new door from them doesn't mean you're giving up the original one!

[on a related note -- anyone need an original Ralliart shift knob or parking brake handle? -- the overpriced aluminum Ralliart-branded ones are far nicer than the stock crap, but they did give me the stock parts back, of course]

 

Hey Scott I can't say that i have had any problem getting my aluminum fuel door open. But i have noticed that it is a little tight when i try to close it. Could it be possible that the hinge might be frozen? Also i haven't looked but is there a tension spring on the fuel door that can be adjusted? Otherwise i would definitely check out if its the cable.

 

I have an 09 GTS with the lancer alloy fuel door. When it gets cold, it is damn near impossible to open. I ended up getting a stiff putty knife from the h-ware store down the street and keep it in my glove box to pry it open. Ended up taking it to the dealer and they gave me a new alloy fuel door and it did the same thing next time I gassed up. I called and they said they had complaints about that and it gets condensation in the release mechanism and that causes it not to open. I think it looks good so I'll live with it I guess.

 

The car came "pre-installed" with it.

 

That's what I was thinking, too... I would prefer having WW fuel door, but whatever.

I have too had problems with the alloy fuel door freezing shut. I had to clear around the door and breath on it to get it to work. Sometimes the lever seems to not work and I have to pop it a couple extra times.

 

So get them to give you the original fuel door back -- your dealer obviously pocketed it, or whoever originally received the car from Mitsubishi did, since the car they got from Mitsubishi didn't come with an alloy fuel door installed.

Bizarre.

 

Most Ralliarts (every one of them here in Dallas) seem to come with a package not listed on the Mitsubishi website that includes the aluminum fuel door, ralliart door scuff plates and a trunk mat. These are installed at the port when it is received so the dealerships don't get the origional part.

 

Mine froze last night from the car wash, i just banged on the hinge end a little and it broke free

 

Any time the weather drops to less than 15f i cant get that fker open!...Im right there with ya man, pain in the A**!!!! But a little trick is to "snap it" (kinda hard to describe) Dont just pull up on the release, kind of pull it up quickly and let it snap back. Like I said, its hard to describe.

 

lol wow. You guys need a certain method just to open the fuel door

 

open sesame?

 

or perhaps: open sesame... please?
nothing like talking to your car

 

I would suggest trying some white (lithium) grease on any parts that have metal-to-metal contact. Lithium grease is water soluble, so you'd have to reapply once in a while, but it shouldn't damage the paint. You might also try putting it where the cable attaches to the door (if you can reach it).

 

I have one and had a similar issue. I thought it was busted at first but then noticed it happened mostly after i washed it or after it froze rain/snowed. The problem is that it freezes shut. you have to hit the door to crack any ice buildup then try opening again. it should pop right open.