Gas Cap is stuck

[Wehrmacht]

Yall got nothing on my story....

I had owned the car for maybe a month back in November 08, and was heading to a concert in Dallas with the girl riding shotgun. I am running low on fuel and get turned around in south Dallas ( baaad... baad.. area) By the time the low fuel light dings on we are south of the city in an even worse neighborhood and I am forced to stop at the next available gas station.

When I pull into 1 of 3 available stalls there are hoods drinking 40's on the corner, shady mofo's coming out of the woodwork behind the store wearing sweats with gerri curls, and far more activity than you'd expect at 11 PM on a Thursday night. I try to swipe card, but the location has no card readers outside.

Inside I'm told "we only accept cash" OK... welcome to 1932. I pony up the legal tender and go outside to fuel up. I see the girl has a frightful look in her eye in the front seat, as several new hoodies creep out of the darkness towards the car and the store.

I go to remove the gas cap, and phew that suckers on there tight. Must be the vacuum from the low fuel level right? I try a bit harder, nope still stuck, maybe two hand effort will do it. CRACK...

Stuck in south Dallas, with degenerates all around, with no gas, and a damn broken gas cap handle on a 2,000 mile car. Incredible... I'm able to use the broken tabs on the cap to push it hard into the threaded bit still stuck in the car, and amazingly it finally unscrews.

Unreal!

 

[714ms3]

Bill, I think you are right. I think I will throw the stock airbox back in, then take it to the dealer.

 

[BillTheCat]

it's a routine and courtesy to open the hood and inspect everything, making sure the fluids are topped off and everything is in place... it's not a foreign concept! they do this to make sure your car is not about to blow up/catch on fire!

99% of people who bring their car to a shop don't know how to work on a car, so they depend on people to look at things for them and god forbid, upsell them services if necessary... if you prefer them to neglect looking over things, and having whatever **** up after 10 miles down the road, would you be happy then?


so if you all pussies have a problem with the whatever-point inspection, call the waaambulance, STFU and buy a gas cap yourself and put it on yourself, then get on with life

Jeebus, man, chill the hell out. I wasn't complaining. I was simply pointing out that inspections like this should be expected. In other words, don't assume that just because your only complaint is a stuck gas cap, they won't pop the hood & check things out for you. Which could lead to them noticing mods, etc.

Damn.

 

[714ms3]

you a service tech at a dealer or something?

No, he is just a grand douchebag.

 

[CWPspeed3]

No, he is just a grand douchebag.

I just wanted to make sure before pointing out that were on a car forum where if 99% of the people knew nothing about their cars and had to take them to the dealer to figure out how to put gas or washer fluid in the car we probably wouldnt be on this forum.

I could understand if he was and was angry because he had run across moron customers in the past and was just bitter because he was just trying to do his job.

back to the point though (i had to go back and look what it even was) should be an easy fix take it back to the dealer if you cant get it off and if they even bother going to pop the hood tell them not to. should be a simple fix.

 

[714ms3]

Yah. Just to be on the safe side though the intake is coming off and am flashing the stock ECU map back on.

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

ROFL...you guys are hilarious.

 

[PaPaSpeed]

I wouldn't take it to the dealer for that. Just go buy a Stant part #10851

 

[paylew]

ROFL...you guys are hilarious.

agreed.

I took mine to the dealer as is, with everything on. They were like "ok, hang on we'll get it off." No problems.

 

[TheMAN]

Jeebus, man, chill the hell out. I wasn't complaining. I was simply pointing out that inspections like this should be expected. In other words, don't assume that just because your only complaint is a stuck gas cap, they won't pop the hood & check things out for you. Which could lead to them noticing mods, etc.

Damn.

they're really not going to care unless they have to touch the s***... in fact, they won't even say anything or record it down or call mazda about it.... takes too much time for them to care

 

[TheMAN]

I just wanted to make sure before pointing out that were on a car forum where if 99% of the people knew nothing about their cars and had to take them to the dealer to figure out how to put gas or washer fluid in the car we probably wouldnt be on this forum.

I could understand if he was and was angry because he had run across moron customers in the past and was just bitter because he was just trying to do his job.

back to the point though (i had to go back and look what it even was) should be an easy fix take it back to the dealer if you cant get it off and if they even bother going to pop the hood tell them not to. should be a simple fix.

you're misunderstanding the fact that you represent 1% of mazda3 owners in the entire country... the 99% is the general population and doesn't care what makes their car go and don't even care about your super duper mods

in otherwords, pissing off the 1% isn't a big deal to any car company compared to pleasing the 99% out there

 

[derspi]

Yah. Just to be on the safe side though the intake is coming off and am flashing the stock ECU map back on.

I can see your point but really, that's just way too much time and effort to get something so minor done. I guess we just put different values on our time and for me, my time is worth much more than worrying about the small possibility of them voiding my warranty over an overly simple warranty fix. Of course, this is easy for me to say seeing that my dealer doesn't seem all that interested in what I've done to my car thus far. I've gone in for servicing 2 or 3 times already with all my mods and will probably continue to do so until something catastrophic happens (like a blown motor).

 

[714ms3]

Well, I decided to just go in with my mods on, but I reflashed the ECU back to stock. They replaced my gas cap, and despite being busy, got it done in 45 mins whilst I got a coffee. I highly recommend Mazda of Orange. That's 2 for 2 now.

 

[derspi]

^^

Took them 45 mins?! Did they have to replace the fuel filler neck too?

 

[714ms3]

Nope, just the gas cap, and the gas cap hanger. Basically the threads and spring in the cap broke when I forced it off at the gas station (I had to use my Arnold muscles), but the filler neck threads were fine. It was weird going back to the stock ECU map, I didn't think I noticed the difference with the AP at first, but now going back to stock, I don't feel bad about spending the money on it anymore.

 

[derspi]

Nope, just the gas cap, and the gas cap hanger. Basically the threads and spring in the cap broke when I forced it off at the gas station (I had to use my Arnold muscles), but the filler neck threads were fine. It was weird going back to the stock ECU map, I didn't think I noticed the difference with the AP at first, but now going back to stock, I don't feel bad about spending the money on it anymore.

You gotta keep the Ahnold muscles in check buddy! Glad they didn't give you a hard time with the rest of the mods. I'm going in for a 24K service next week and like you, I intend to flash back to the stock map before going in - gotta love that AP! I've said it before and I'll say it again, the AP is without a doubt, money well spent.

 

[Speed3B]

Do 2009 Speed3's have this problem as well or has the upgrade already been put on?

 

[BillTheCat]

Do 2009 Speed3's have this problem as well or has the upgrade already been put on?

Seems to affect all model years. ALthough, in the case of my specific 2009 MS3, the problem was a malformed filler neck on the gas tank. Dealer replaced under warranty.

 

[714ms3]

I just filled up for he first time after the dealer replaced the cap, and noticed that the replacement cap is not magnetic!! WTF?? Now I have to go back to the dealership. I know it is not a big deal, but I have no other way to hang the damn gas cap.

 

[GoFast]

I just filled up for he first time after the dealer replaced the cap, and noticed that the replacement cap is not magnetic!! WTF?? Now I have to go back to the dealership. I know it is not a big deal, but I have no other way to hang the damn gas cap.

our caps are magnetic?