Gas door gone crazy!!! 1999 STS

danssts · #1 (**permalink**) 05-16-08, 12:42 AM

Seems like everytime I fix something, something else goes wrong...

The latest problem is the gas door popping open by itself and keeps doing it and won't stop. Sometimes it happens every couple of minutes, sometimes every couple of seconds. Even when it is open it continues to try and disengage, don't know why.

Has any body heard of anything like this? What the hell am I supposed to do the damn thing wont stay shut and its gonna drain my battery!! Also, the button on the key fob no longer works, neither does the one under the dash. Any idea where the fuse for the gas door is located?

danssts · #2 (**permalink**) 05-16-08, 01:20 AM

Well I disconnected my input signal wires for my amp (stereo) which I recently installed and it seems to have stopped. i heard the electrical system in these car was finnicky but wow, it must sense a problem and compensates for the draw created by the amp by doing this...I guess getting a signal from the rear speaker was a bad idea??? Any thoughts?

submariner409 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-16-08, 12:47 PM

You may not be out of the woods yet. There's a lot in here about aftermarket accessories interfering with the OEM wiring harnesses which carry not only 12V to and from everywhere, but also act as serial data transmission lines between body, accessory, and engine control modules. Tap into a wrong signal or ground and you get big problems and codes set. A buddy of mine is a pretty good installer, his shop hates to work on some GM and Cadillac, and he says the best bet is to make a whole new harness, complete with feeds and grounds, and start from the fuse boxes only. His labor rates are quite high......

danssts · #4 (**permalink**) 05-16-08, 03:40 PM

This morning I went outside and the gas door was open... again. So I came in and did some more research on here and it sounds like it may be a short circuit caused by water in the wiring/ switches. I have noticed when it rains hard my front A pillar on the drivers side gets wet, and the water goes into the dash. The tube for the sunroof looks fine, not sure where the water is coming from but that is another days problem. Someone else on here had the same problem caused by water coming down this A pillar. The switches are working fine now, they were not working yesterday. I am going to take a hairdryer and see if I can evaporate some of the water up there. The possessed door seems to be slowing down, possibly because it is drying out, it only happens every 5 minutes instead of 10 seconds lol.

AS for the stereo system which I originally thought was the problem, I have reconnected it as I have ruled it out as the problem for now. I am sure some other problem will show up caused by the stereo in the future lol.
-Dan

danssts · #5 (**permalink**) 05-16-08, 04:54 PM

Just for the records I disconnected the switch under the dash, you can get at it through the side of the dash. The gas flap no longer opens by itself howeve I have no switch to replace it with, I believe the switch was faulty.

Eric · #6 (**permalink**) 05-17-08, 08:42 AM

I had the same gas door problem. In my case the switch was not returning to its starting position. I pressed the switch and let it snap back a number of times and problem went away. You can also push the face of the switch to open position.

AlBundy · #7 (**permalink**) 06-15-08, 10:07 PM

I had a similar problem only it was with my door locks unlocking. Everytime I'd lock the door it would unlock itself and keep clicking every minute or so for about 10-15 minutes. It disappeared and hasn't happened again.

Mgilla · #8 (**permalink**) 08-08-09, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danssts

Seems like everytime I fix something, something else goes wrong...

The latest problem is the gas door popping open by itself and keeps doing it and won't stop. Sometimes it happens every couple of minutes, sometimes every couple of seconds. Even when it is open it continues to try and disengage, don't know why.

Has any body heard of anything like this? What the hell am I supposed to do the damn thing wont stay shut and its gonna drain my battery!! Also, the button on the key fob no longer works, neither does the one under the dash. Any idea where the fuse for the gas door is located?

Old thread, I know, but I just had to revive it in case no one discovered what happened. Mine did the same thing, for about two days, until I found the problem. The under-dash button, which is the one I normally use, was sticking (kinda cocked into position). Once I realized it was how I was pushing the button in, it has never occurred since.