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How to Open a Gas Tank Download Article Co-authored by Ed Beery and Hannah Madden
Last Updated: February 24, 2025 Fact Checked
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Ways to Open a Fuel Door
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Opening a Stuck Gas Tank Door
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This article was co-authored by Ed Beery and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Ed Beery is an Automotive Specialist and the Owner of InTechgrity Automotive Excellence based in Denver, Colorado. With more than eight years of experience, he specializes in providing maintenance and repair services for both individuals and companies. Ed and the InTechgrity Automotive Excellence Team are approved by the American Automobile Association (AAA) for repairs and are Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 199,666 times.
Whether you’re borrowing a friend’s car or you just got a new car, opening up the gas tank door can take some getting used to. While different cars sometimes have different mechanisms, there are a few main ways to open up a gas tank door in any car. In this article, we’ll walk you through opening up your gas tank door as well as fixing a stuck gas tank door so you can fill up your car and hit the road again.
Things You Should Know
Check for a fuel tank lever or button near the driver’s side door.
Push the gas tank door inward if there is no button or lever.
If the gas tank door is stuck shut, engage the manual release lever through the trunk.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 2:
Ways to Open a Fuel Door
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1 Turn off the car and unlock the doors. In most cars, the gas tank door won’t open unless the car is turned off and the doors are unlocked. Put the car in park, then turn it off and make sure that all of the doors are unlocked (some cars will do this automatically when put into park).[1]XResearch source
2 Check for a fuel release lever near the bottom of the driver’s seat. Many cars have a fuel release lever that you have to engage in order to unlock the gas tank door.[2]X Expert Source Ed BeeryAutomotive SpecialistExpert Interview If your car has one, it will be near the bottom of the driver’s seat, close to the driver’s side door. Look for a small lever with a gas pump on it, then pull the lever up to engage it.[3]XResearch source
You’ll hear a small “thunk” as you pull the lever—that means the gas tank door is unlocked.
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3 Look for a fuel release button on the driver’s side door. Newer cars may have a fuel release button rather than a lever. Check the lower part of the driver’s side door for a button with an image of a gas pump on it. When you find it, press the button to unlock the gas tank door.[4]XResearch source
The button may also have a small lock and unlock symbol on it.
4 Press on the gas tank door to unlock it if there is no button or lever. If you’re searching for an unlock button or lever and can’t find one, there’s a chance that your car doesn’t have one. Step out of the car and then press the gas tank door inwards. If it unlocks this way, it will spring open automatically after you push it in.[5]XResearch source
5 Turn the fuel cap counterclockwise to open it. Once your gas tank door is open, turn the fuel cap counterclockwise, then start pumping your gas.[6]XResearch source
Your car may have a locking gas cap on it. If it does, simply take the key and insert it into the gas cap, then twist it counterclockwise to unlock it.
If you live in a state where you don’t have to pump your own gas, don’t worry about unscrewing the gas cap—the attendant will do that for you.
6 Shut the gas tank door before driving away. Once you’ve pumped your gas, screw the gas cap back on and then press the gas tank door shut. You’ll hear a small “click” once the locking mechanism on the gas tank door has engaged.[7]XResearch source
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 2:
Opening a Stuck Gas Tank Door
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1 Open the trunk and move the access panel near the fuel tank. If your gas tank door is stuck shut, there’s most likely a problem with the release lever inside of the car. You can access this lever by opening your trunk and removing the plastic access panel that’s closest to the fuel tank.[8]XResearch source
If your car does not have an access panel, simply remove the cloth lining near the inside of the fuel tank.
If you’re driving a vehicle without a trunk (like a truck), accessing the mechanism behind your gas tank may be difficult. Take your car to a licensed mechanic so they can access the mechanism for you.
2 Slide your hand behind the gas tank inside your car. Use a flashlight to look into the access panel behind the gas tank. You’ll see a small box mechanism with a lever on it—that’s the locking mechanism for your gas tank door.[9]XResearch source
3 Press the manual release lever with your hand. Reach inside the access panel until you touch a small box with a lever on the side. Press the lever downward to unlock the fuel tank door manually (you’ll hear a small click as you do this). Your gas tank door will be open, and you can now pump your gas.[10]XResearch source
Your car may have a manual release pin instead of a lever. If you reach inside and see a pin, simply turn the pin counterclockwise, then pull it out.
If your gas tank door does not have a fuel release button or lever (meaning you push it to unlock it), have a friend gently pry the gas tank door upward as you press the manual release lever.
4 Replace the manual release lever. A faulty release lever means that you can’t unlock your gas tank door whenever you need to. Fortunately, these parts are usually fairly cheap, and a mechanic can replace them easily. Take your car to a mechanic and have them replace the part to get your gas tank door working again.[11]XResearch source
Sometimes, the gas tank door locking mechanism will stop working because a fuse has blown. If that’s the case, you can change the fuse yourself or take your car to a mechanic.
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Question Is the gas on the right or left side? Ed Beery Automotive Specialist Ed Beery is an Automotive Specialist and the Owner of InTechgrity Automotive Excellence based in Denver, Colorado. With more than eight years of experience, he specializes in providing maintenance and repair services for both individuals and companies. Ed and the InTechgrity Automotive Excellence Team are approved by the American Automobile Association (AAA) for repairs and are Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified. Ed Beery Automotive Specialist Expert Answer Check the car's dashboard to confirm this. Many vehicles have a small arrow or indicator on the fuel gauge of the dashboard that indicates the side of the vehicle that has the fuel tank access. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 6
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Tips
Make a habit of walking around any vehicle you are preparing to drive, whether it's yours or someone else’s. Always take note of the side with the fuel filler and note any concerns with the vehicle, such as low tires, leaks, broken lights, etc. as this can help you a great deal when borrowing a vehicle.[12]X Expert Source Ed BeeryAutomotive SpecialistExpert InterviewThanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
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About This Article
Co-authored by: Ed Beery Automotive Specialist This article was co-authored by Ed Beery and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Ed Beery is an Automotive Specialist and the Owner of InTechgrity Automotive Excellence based in Denver, Colorado. With more than eight years of experience, he specializes in providing maintenance and repair services for both individuals and companies. Ed and the InTechgrity Automotive Excellence Team are approved by the American Automobile Association (AAA) for repairs and are Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified. This article has been viewed 199,666 times. 8 votes - 57% Co-authors: 4Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 199,666 Categories: Cars In other languages Spanish Portuguese Indonesian Japanese
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Download Article Co-authored by Ed Beery and Hannah Madden 
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Co-authored by: Ed Beery Automotive Specialist This article was co-authored by Ed Beery and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Ed Beery is an Automotive Specialist and the Owner of InTechgrity Automotive Excellence based in Denver, Colorado. With more than eight years of experience, he specializes in providing maintenance and repair services for both individuals and companies. Ed and the InTechgrity Automotive Excellence Team are approved by the American Automobile Association (AAA) for repairs and are Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified. This article has been viewed 199,666 times. 8 votes - 57% Co-authors: 4 Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 199,666 Categories: Cars In other languages Spanish Portuguese Indonesian Japanese 
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1 Turn off the car and unlock the doors. In most cars, the gas tank door won’t open unless the car is turned off and the doors are unlocked. Put the car in park, then turn it off and make sure that all of the doors are unlocked (some cars will do this automatically when put into park).[1] 
2 Check for a fuel release lever near the bottom of the driver’s seat. Many cars have a fuel release lever that you have to engage in order to unlock the gas tank door.[2] If your car has one, it will be near the bottom of the driver’s seat, close to the driver’s side door. Look for a small lever with a gas pump on it, then pull the lever up to engage it.[3] 
3 Look for a fuel release button on the driver’s side door. Newer cars may have a fuel release button rather than a lever. Check the lower part of the driver’s side door for a button with an image of a gas pump on it. When you find it, press the button to unlock the gas tank door.[4] 
4 Press on the gas tank door to unlock it if there is no button or lever. If you’re searching for an unlock button or lever and can’t find one, there’s a chance that your car doesn’t have one. Step out of the car and then press the gas tank door inwards. If it unlocks this way, it will spring open automatically after you push it in.[5] 
5 Turn the fuel cap counterclockwise to open it. Once your gas tank door is open, turn the fuel cap counterclockwise, then start pumping your gas.[6] 
6 Shut the gas tank door before driving away. Once you’ve pumped your gas, screw the gas cap back on and then press the gas tank door shut. You’ll hear a small “click” once the locking mechanism on the gas tank door has engaged.[7] Advertisement 
1 Open the trunk and move the access panel near the fuel tank. If your gas tank door is stuck shut, there’s most likely a problem with the release lever inside of the car. You can access this lever by opening your trunk and removing the plastic access panel that’s closest to the fuel tank.[8] 
2 Slide your hand behind the gas tank inside your car. Use a flashlight to look into the access panel behind the gas tank. You’ll see a small box mechanism with a lever on it—that’s the locking mechanism for your gas tank door.[9] 
3 Press the manual release lever with your hand. Reach inside the access panel until you touch a small box with a lever on the side. Press the lever downward to unlock the fuel tank door manually (you’ll hear a small click as you do this). Your gas tank door will be open, and you can now pump your gas.[10] 
4 Replace the manual release lever. A faulty release lever means that you can’t unlock your gas tank door whenever you need to. Fortunately, these parts are usually fairly cheap, and a mechanic can replace them easily. Take your car to a mechanic and have them replace the part to get your gas tank door working again.[11] 
Ed Beery Automotive Specialist Ed Beery is an Automotive Specialist and the Owner of InTechgrity Automotive Excellence based in Denver, Colorado. With more than eight years of experience, he specializes in providing maintenance and repair services for both individuals and companies. Ed and the InTechgrity Automotive Excellence Team are approved by the American Automobile Association (AAA) for repairs and are Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified.