Grumpyman Posted June 4, 2021 Share Posted June 4, 2021 As the owner of a 2018 Autotrail V Line 610 I have tried to replace the fuel cap from a Fiat dealer only to be told that you have to buy a complete set of lock barrels plus the ignition . Price quoted was four hundred pounds plus labour. Are the having a laugh or what. Have tried looking on the internet without much success most caps only fit pre 2018. Just have to keep looking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted June 4, 2021 Share Posted June 4, 2021 David, Taking a step back, why do you need to replace the fuel filler cap on a three year old Ducato? Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpyman Posted June 4, 2021 Author Share Posted June 4, 2021 The key is very stiff to turn even after oiling and WD40. slightly worried it might pack up.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickt Posted June 4, 2021 Share Posted June 4, 2021 Have a look on Ebay ,caps are under £20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted June 4, 2021 Share Posted June 4, 2021 Grumpyman - 2021-06-04 10:53 AM The key is very stiff to turn even after oiling and WD40. slightly worried it might pack up.. The key in the fuel-filler cap can be stiff to turn initially. I've liberally sprayed this lubricant https://wd40.co.uk/product/anti-friction-dry-ptfe-lubricant-spray/ through my Ducato cap's keyhole and have never had any concerns. (As it's the vehicle's ignition key that's used with the fuel-filler cap, it's perhaps not too surprising that a Fiat dealer will be cautious and insist that you purchase a full set. You should to able to obtain online a 'genuine' Ducato fuel-cap, but this will probably be without the lock barrel and - in any case - it's within your cap's lock barrel where the stiffness lies.) Suggest you lavishly lubricate your filler-cap's lock with the WD-40 dry PTFE spray I use - that should satisfactorily address any stiffness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breakaleg Posted June 8, 2021 Share Posted June 8, 2021 Graphite is the thing to use on locks, find it at a locksmiths or on Amazon. It is made for lubricating locks and doesn't make the lock sticky. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted June 8, 2021 Share Posted June 8, 2021 There is a lot of online advice about lock lubrication https://tinyurl.com/aksvkhue I use WD-40 Dry PTFE as it’s readily available and clean. https://www.screwfix.com/p/wd-40-dry-ptfe-lubricant-400ml/36613?_requestid=36082 I’ve been using it for years and, where vehicle locks are concerned, it has proven to be effective. I don’t know if it’s less effective than a graphite powder lubricant, but it’s a good general purpose lubricanr where using an ‘oily’ product (eg. common-or-garden WD-40) would be undesirable. https://www.expressdoorsdirect.co.uk/blog/how-to-fix-a-sticky-lock-on-your-door/ (It also means I don’t need to keep a lubricant specifically for locks.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted June 8, 2021 Share Posted June 8, 2021 Grumpyman - 2021-06-04 10:53 AM The key is very stiff to turn even after oiling and WD40. slightly worried it might pack up.. Won't the WD40 wash any lubricant out of the lock ? It's possibly the stiffness is caused by the grinding of metal on metal. A dry lubricant (PTFE or Graphite) could solve the problem. Many motorfactors would be able to supply a replacement lockable cap, but would mean an additional key. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverback Posted June 8, 2021 Share Posted June 8, 2021 what about buying a replacement key? that way if it breaks it is not your main ignition key, and if the barrel packs up they can be replaced, as said above use graphite grease or silicon grease Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted June 8, 2021 Share Posted June 8, 2021 This 2017 forum discussion may be of interest https://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Motorhome-Matters/New-Petrol-locking-cap/47937/ An appropriate fuel-cap WITHOUT THE LOCK-BARREL should be straightforward to source. Presumably it should be practicable to swap an existing lock-barrel into that cap, but - as I said above - it's the barrel that's resulting in the stiffness in this case. I don't know whether a suitable barrel with a key can easily be obtained that could be fitted into GM's current cap or into a replacement 'no barrel' cap, but obtaining a replacement barrel that would work with GM''s present ignition key is likely to be a non-starter. Plainly, if a 'sacrificial' copy of the ignition key were obtained and the copy broke when trying to lock or unlock the fuel-cap, the vehicle's motor could still be started and stopped. But then the fuel-cap would be inoperable. As GM's present cap locks OK (albeit stiffly) the logical thing to do would be to thoroughly clean out the interior of the cap's lock-barrel to get rid of the WD-40 lubricant and then re-lubricate the barrel with a more suitable product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpyman Posted June 8, 2021 Author Share Posted June 8, 2021 Thanks for all your comments after using WD PTF the lock is now much easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted June 9, 2021 Share Posted June 9, 2021 Out of curiosity I checked the fuel filler-cap of my 2015 Ducato to see how stiff turning the key was. I took the cap off and rotated the key to and fro several times. Although (as one might expect) a little effort was needed when turning the key from its unlocked position to its locked position, there was no sign of actual stiffness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpyman Posted June 9, 2021 Author Share Posted June 9, 2021 Had a reply from Fiat UK this morning to say that a new fuel cap is available without changing all the locks and ignition. Also supplied the Part No. So will be going to my local dealer to see what they have to say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted June 9, 2021 Share Posted June 9, 2021 Just out of interest, it would be useful to know the Part Number FIAT gave you. As I said above, there seems to be no great problem getting hold of a cap with no lock-barrel (example advert here) https://coastalmotorhomes.co.uk/fiat-ducato-peugeot-boxer-citroen-relay-fuel-cap-oe-02-on-1333085080.html It's purchasing a brand-new cap that has the lock-barrel in it together with the key that's likely to present difficulties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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