My fuel access door has been sticking and I have been using the manual release knob in the truck to open it for the past 6 months. When I went to lubricate the access door solenoid today, I pulled the knob and it broke off. Now, I have a pair of vice grips connected on the stem in the trunk where the knob used to be.

Now that this happened, I am hearing a pump running (I'm presuming a vacuum pump) for about 30 seconds after I unlock the car doors and get in the car. It sounds like it's coming from under the right rear seat.

Could a faulty fuel access door actuator cause the pump to continue to remain on for 30 seconds after unlocking the doors? I'm thinking that maybe there's a small leak in the actuator and the pump is commanded to run extra to compensate for this. The doors still lock and unlock fine.

Thanks.

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1993 400E, 256,000 miles (totaled)
1994 E420, 200,000+ miles
1995 E420, 201,000 miles