Embarrassing moment at the diesel pump?

I went to fuel up my 1980 300TD and the lil fuel door would not open. So i drove off, I could not fuel it. It been about 3 weeks that since i drove it last, it got buried under snow and melted off . I don't have access to a heated garage...any suggestions? I don't want to break or bend the fuel door and I don't have one of :fork_off: .

Hair dryer, I'm assuming that it is frozen shut

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81 Mercedes 300SD 289k.......SOLD
82 Mercedes 300CD 252k......slow ride

82 mercedes 300 SD...mi Unknown
83 Mercedes 300D ????ksniff..gone too
84 Mercedes 300D 148k........SOLD
85 Mercedes 300TD 386k and holding some one elses project

With the wagon, you can open the hatch drop down the right side access panel in the back area and access the vacuum mechanism that controls the latch. You should be able to manually unlock it.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Assuming it's not just frozen shut you've probably got a broken grommet on the hole where the locking shaft comes through.

Had that happen on mine a couple of times. When it breaks there's nothing for the little spring to rest against so it just slides forward and locks. Was able to find a replacement at the junkyard the first time and then repair with some tape the second. When it failed a 3rd time I gave up and removed the whole mechanism.

__________________
Joe

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1980 300SD - 495k miles - 'The Ambassador'
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Former Family Members
95 C280
73 280SEL
90 300D
87 300SDL (X2)
86 560SEL
84 300D
80 300SD

The actuator that locks the fuel door is probably stuck. Might tinker around with it from the inside and see what you can find.

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thanks


opps i ment 300sd not the td.

my fault....

Pull back the liner on the inside of the trunk. You will be able to reach in and pull back the actuator to unlock the fuel door.

__________________
Joe

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1980 300SD - 495k miles - 'The Ambassador'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Former Family Members
95 C280
73 280SEL
90 300D
87 300SDL (X2)
86 560SEL
84 300D
80 300SD

Thank you.....I'm off to Macy's

I did pull back the trunk liner and removed the lock actuator......

I mamaged to peer inside the fuel door......there is ice on the bottm two set of hinges. I'll have to ride to the hardware store or a beauty store and get a micro torch heater or a hair dryer.