Petrol cap will not unlock/open

This might help ,


Mk3 05 model locking petrol cap is stuck closed how can I override it?

If you look inside the boot area on the side where the fuel cap area is - you will see a pull ring arrangement that you can pull to open the fuel flap... this is an emergency release..

You may have to peel back the material up the side of the car "wall" to reveal the mechanism depending on exact model...

That will allow you to use the fuel flap - put fuel in etc until such a time as you can get the component sorted out... it usually means a new motor for the fuel flap ... but you can sort that out then..

Hi, The answer by whittingehame is unfortunately 'wrong'.! I have just had the same issue in my 2007 clio. There is No access to a ring to pull manually!! There are two ways that this can achieved The way I have just got my FLAP TO OPEN is, you need a long thin screwdriver, just to the right of middle at the top is where the catch engages!! SO, you need to have a torch, force the flap open as much as you dare, then put your long thin screwdriver in from the BOTTOM, you are trying to see the catch system,,You can then poke the driver to push up the pin that locks the flap in place. This then will release the Flap. I have found out that it is the solenoid that is knackered. Renault want £160 to replace it.!! Me, I am buying myself a locking fuel cap.

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the info. it helped in sorting this out on my girlfriend's car.

I'm surprised that there's no 'emergency release' cable / hook / lever close to hand or immediately obvious.

There is, however, an emergency release hook situated inside the bodywork, behind the interior cowling. here's how to find it (this is on a '07, 1.2 3dr Clio):

~Open the bootlid.
~Peel off the rubber seal on the right hand side from about half way up all the way up to the roof.
~Gently lever open (**not off) the black plastic cowling on the lower half.
~Gently lever open (**not off) the grey plastic cowling that makes up the top half - in my case the grey and black parts remained together and I levered them open as one unit.
~If you get a torch and peer inside you'll be able to see the seatbelt mechanism just behind. If you look just behind that you'll see an opening in the metal bodywork (about the size of two fists) and just inside that you'll see a black object with a white electrical terminal (almost looks like a small windscreen wiper motor). NB. There is only the seatbelt and the fuel filler cap solenoid in there so if you're not looking at the seatbelt then you should be looking at the solenoid.
~On the top left of the solenoid there is a little black hook / lever sticking out the side. If you pop your finger under that and hook it up slowly you'll hear the solenoid make a sound as you manually move the electric motor & gears.
~That's the fuel cap released.

If you're concerned about the solenoid suddenly locking up again then I'd suggest just disconnecting the white electrical block from the solenoid.

I only mention doing it this way simply because I couldn't 'find' the pin to push up with the screw driver as was mentioned before (plus I didn't want to risk scratching the paintwork on my girlfriend's car - "hell hath no fury..." and all that). Both ways will work quite well.

**It's important to not try to remove the cowling without proper tools or knowhow as you run the risk of damaging it. It can be levered open just enough to slide a hand in to do the job but do be careful not to force it open any more than necessary.