DeLorean locking gas cap (or how to do surgery over the phone)

[goblin]

K, this one will be a bit like doing surgery over the phone, but it is what it is.
My better half will be visiting her best friend in Canada, and she (the friend) mentioned that her late husband's DeLorean's gas cap doesn't unlock.

She was preparing it for its bi-yearly fill-up before winter. Here's what I could figure out over the phone:

- It's a locking gas cap (apparently DeLoreans came with locking and not-locking ones).
- The key seems to turn normally in the cap, within specs.
- Once it's turned, when she grabs the cap - it can turn a few degrees before it reaches the hard point.

So to me, it sounds like the cap doesn't unlock, rather than the cap unlocking and being stuck on the tank.

I am a firm believer that there's nothing that a hammer and a pair of Knipex can't fix, but it's a DeLorean, and it's not something I'd advise her to hammer on. The irony is that the car lives in a fully-equipped heated garage with a lift. Her husband built it all the way to the last nut and bolt then passed away. She's a pianist, so she might be able to tell a hammer from toaster, but I suspect that's about it.

So my first question is - did this thing use an off the shelf gas cap like many of the parts it used, or was it something bespoke ? It turned out that with all the info on the web, I'm not able to get a reliable picture of this thing.

Second and last - is there anything easy them girls can try ? WD-40 ? Anything ? Wife assembles $500k industrial optic modules for $150 million machines day in and day out, but I doubt this would be too useful for a gas cap.

Thanks

 

[Hirev]

I would spray a little lube in it and try pushing and pulling while turning the key. I guess you could also get er up to 88 MPH and go back in time to when the gas cap was off for refuel.

 

[meep]

Your guess sounds right to me, and I’ll bet a cheeseburger that it’s a GM parts-bin gas cap. Shake wiggle and roll is the best I can think of before getting dramatic. Dramatic might include hammering a carefully selected screwdriver into the lock and using force, or drilling the locking core out - which the pianist should not do.

 

[Chris142]

Find a shop that deals with exotic cars and let them deal with it.

 

[f355spider]

There has to be a DeLorean forum on the web. Sign up and ask away for all the answers.
There are also a couple parts houses that specialize in DeLoreans...try calling them.

Google:

https://support.delorean.com/kb/a17/gas-caps-locking-and-non-locking-types.aspx

https://dmctalk.org/archive/index.php/t-7455.html

https://www.google.com/search?q=del...HSyOBOIQrQIoAnoECBkQAw&biw=1912&bih=932&dpr=1

 

[f355spider]

Find a shop that deals with exotic cars and let them deal with it.

Most have never seen one or would not work on one. There is a cottage industry for them now with regional shops around the country that specialize in them. There are two in WA State were I live.

 

[eljefino]

There's no way this is a unique gas cap. Delorean bought their junky PRV motor off the shelf.

A locking gas cap has two pieces-- threads, and handle. The lock connects them. Buy an identical one at a parts store and practice your technique with it, not installed on any Delorean. Maybe drive a drywall screw through? There are probably youtube videos.

 

[Nukeman7]

K, this one will be a bit like doing surgery over the phone, but it is what it is.
My better half will be visiting her best friend in Canada, and she (the friend) mentioned that her late husband's DeLorean's gas cap doesn't unlock.

She was preparing it for its bi-yearly fill-up before winter. Here's what I could figure out over the phone:

- It's a locking gas cap (apparently DeLoreans came with locking and not-locking ones).
- The key seems to turn normally in the cap, within specs.
- Once it's turned, when she grabs the cap - it can turn a few degrees before it reaches the hard point.

So to me, it sounds like the cap doesn't unlock, rather than the cap unlocking and being stuck on the tank.

I also agree with your belief that the cap is working correctly and the real issue is the cap is stuck on/in the fill port on the tank. Take a look at the photos on the DeLorean website and you can see how the cap latches onto the gas tank. The question is whether turning the cap "a few degrees" is enough of a rotation to align the tabs with the cutouts on the collar. In my experience, it would need to turn at least 45 degrees to release, so maybe rust has formed on the tank collar.

I am a firm believer that there's nothing that a hammer and a pair of Knipex can't fix, but it's a DeLorean, and it's not something I'd advise her to hammer on. The irony is that the car lives in a fully-equipped heated garage with a lift. Her husband built it all the way to the last nut and bolt then passed away. She's a pianist, so she might be able to tell a hammer from toaster, but I suspect that's about it.

So my first question is - did this thing use an off the shelf gas cap like many of the parts it used, or was it something bespoke ? It turned out that with all the info on the web, I'm not able to get a reliable picture of this thing.

Second and last - is there anything easy them girls can try ? WD-40 ? Anything ? Wife assembles $500k industrial optic modules for $150 million machines day in and day out, but I doubt this would be too useful for a gas cap.

Thanks

I'd try spraying WD-40 (or a similar lubricant) under the edge of the cap and then use padded wide jaw (i.e., oil filter type) Vise-Grips to rotate the cap further than a few degrees. Perhaps protect the circumference of gas cap with duct tape or masking tape too.

 

[97prizm]

K, this one will be a bit like doing surgery over the phone, but it is what it is.
My better half will be visiting her best friend in Canada, and she (the friend) mentioned that her late husband's DeLorean's gas cap doesn't unlock.

She was preparing it for its bi-yearly fill-up before winter. Here's what I could figure out over the phone:

- It's a locking gas cap (apparently DeLoreans came with locking and not-locking ones).
- The key seems to turn normally in the cap, within specs.
- Once it's turned, when she grabs the cap - it can turn a few degrees before it reaches the hard point.

So to me, it sounds like the cap doesn't unlock, rather than the cap unlocking and being stuck on the tank.

I am a firm believer that there's nothing that a hammer and a pair of Knipex can't fix, but it's a DeLorean, and it's not something I'd advise her to hammer on. The irony is that the car lives in a fully-equipped heated garage with a lift. Her husband built it all the way to the last nut and bolt then passed away. She's a pianist, so she might be able to tell a hammer from toaster, but I suspect that's about it.

So my first question is - did this thing use an off the shelf gas cap like many of the parts it used, or was it something bespoke ? It turned out that with all the info on the web, I'm not able to get a reliable picture of this thing.

Second and last - is there anything easy them girls can try ? WD-40 ? Anything ? Wife assembles $500k industrial optic modules for $150 million machines day in and day out, but I doubt this would be too useful for a gas cap.

Thanks

Have you been able to find an image of what type of gas cap it is? There is a single spiral, double spiral, Many 80's vehicles including my RX-7 have a metal gas cap that has two flat notches that you align then push down and twist. I suppose it's entirely possible that the locking mechanism is broken.

 

[Nukeman7]

Have you been able to find an image of what type of gas cap it is? There is a single spiral, double spiral, Many 80's vehicles including my RX-7 have a metal gas cap that has two flat notches that you align then push down and twist. I suppose it's entirely possible that the locking mechanism is broken.

Yep, new replacement (non-locking) gas caps are available for $27 here: DeLorean DMC Gas Cap.

 

[meep]

We are pressing the cap inward to release, in case it needs that, right?

 

[goblin]

Yep, supposedly they did. More testing scheduled today.

 

[JHZR2]

Yep, new replacement (non-locking) gas caps are available for $27 here: DeLorean DMC Gas Cap.

Looks more or less like the mechanism on my old MB diesels.

I would push in a bit harder while turning. Could also be a gasket that is stuck between the surfaces.

 

[goblin]

I give up. At this point, I shiver at what other fun the wife might be having. Would have been fine if they went to see The Chippendales or something, but this here level of fun is unforgivable. A stark discussion we shall have at her return!

So yeah - vacuum was holding the cap in. They opened the cap and then she dug in relief valves or whatever.

All while my Beemer has been on jacks since May because I'm too lazy to replace the AC compressor.

PS: Yes, Chippendales. I'm that old.

 

[michaelluscher]

Iconic garage and Delorean

For a lost/broken key, there's a brute force method (on newer plastic style caps)

Removing locking gas cap

 

[goblin]

Thanks
No, the cap is fine. It was apparently pulled in by vacuum.

 

[meep]

I want that car. So bad. It’s an iconic favorite.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I want that car. So bad. It’s an iconic favorite.

I need one and a Pantera. Thank you very much.

 

[eljefino]

Thanks
No, the cap is fine. It was apparently pulled in by vacuum.

So many of my beaters over the years have had various EVAP leaks but your 40+ year old car is so incredibly tight it steals its own gas cap!