Hey I was searching the forums and couldn't find anything to answer my question which I know someone knows. Anyways how the hell do you put the fuel cap on the fuel door when filling up with gas???? I have tried some ways but it has fallen twice and hit my car!! **** me off...lol....just wondering if anyone knows the best way for it NOT to fall...pics would help if their is a link to the forum with my answer or anything...thanks guys!

Jeff

 

By the way I have a 2007 Mazda 3 GT ..not sure if it matters! thx

 

It's easy to do but not easy to figure out. Open your fuel door. On the right hand side there are two curved pieces of metal (I believe they're part of the latch system for the door) with oblong hole in them. We'll be using the lower and more protruding one of them to hold the gas cap.

There are two ways to do this. Way number one is to put the gas cap in front (as in towards the front of the car) of the metal piece and let the metal piece "cup" the top of the cap. HERE'S a video of someone doing that.

The other way is to push the tip of the lower metal thing into the groove on the gas cap where the plastic washer (which is attached to the tether) sits. The tip can go on either side of the washer, though I tend to go above the washer. Here's a picture of that.



I've never had the gas cap fall out while using the groove method and it's pretty damn secure in there. I have had it fall with the first method so I don't use that. It's funny. Whenever I'm hanging around at the dealer waiting for something to be done with my car I always wander around and look at stuff. Generally speaking I'll start talking with a bored salesman and I'll point out this method and tell him he should show every customer he sells a 3 to. They're usually pretty appreciative.

 

Thanks for the info man!! I appreciate it.

 

 

virgin1, are the threads of your cap actually touching the painted surface? The way I do it they're aren't touching at all.

 

Maybe because I have an '04, but this is the only way it works on mine. The capdoesn't fit behind the tab as in the video, but has to slip in between the rubber gasket and upper portion of the cap itself. Friction is the name of the game for mine.

 

Mine never worked like in that video, but that's not how I use it anyway. You are correct though that the '04 is different. Newer models have a shorter tether whereas the '04 got that squiggly tether.