Electric Fuel Tank Locking Cap

[bobostski]

Last week-end I installed an Mopar electric fuel tank locking cap on my 49 Chrysler. It's fun to have people stand by the back fender and pop it open for them. People don't believe it's  a period Mopar option.

 

The instructions said to run the wire along the fuel line under the car and pass it through the firewall. I didn't think it was a good idea to run this wire on the outside of the car. So I drilled a small hole in the  inner fender so it could come through the trunk. I then ran the wire with the tail light wires to the front inside the car. I used about 6" of 1/4 " asphalt coated braided cloth tubing to protect the wires in the wheel well. I made a foam bushing to seal the hole and protect the wires from getting cut in the hole.I also put a about 1/2" long piece of this tubing to cover the wires where they run from the cap and then under rubber filler tube fender grommet. There is a short wire coming out of the cap that I grounded in the trunk.

 

 When i got into the passenger compartment, I ran the wire under the rubber door mats and up behind the  side cardboard under under the dash. The instructions said to connect this wire to the push button switch and connect the other wire out of the switch to the "main lighting circuit breaker" . I had no idea of what or where this circuit breaker was and it's almost impossible to get up behind the dash to work as there is no room. I was standing there with the door open trying to figure out where I could find a live wire when the car was off and then i saw it. The switch in the door jam to turn on the dome lights would work great. i attached the wire to the live side of the switch.The cap came with a wire long enough to reach to the front of car. I put the switch under the dash between the em.brake and the hood release.It was a fairly simple installation. I bought the cap on eBay and was glad it came with all the parts.

 

I was wondering show safe it is  to have something that could make a spark so close to the gas tank. Am i going to blow up my car? It does have a good cork gasket that seals the filler neck.

 

 

[Dodgeb4ya]

My 1952 Plymouth Belvedere has one I put on it 40 years ago... Never blown up yet!

[Andydodge]

Here in Oz we were lucky to have a fuel tank as an option let alone an electric cap locker/opener.........lol..........so how does it work?.......I am assuming a small solenoid of some sort  but interested in details.......lol.......andyd    

[Dave72dt]

I was wondering show safe it is  to have something that could make a spark so close to the gas tank. Am i going to blow up my car? It does have a good cork gasket that seals the filler neck.

 

All the new cars have electric pumps in the tank.  Good connections, you'll be fine.

[Oldguy48]

This post reminds me of an issue with a similar electric gas cap on my first car (a 1948 P15). At the time, the P15 was our family car. Well, the gas cap would not open. My Dad, who was a highly skilled and resourceful carpenter, retrieved his trusty claw hammer, and forcibly removed the gas cap. The car was nearly out of gas, and he decided that was the best way to resolve the problem.

Wayne

[Cebreros]

That is such a neat detail.

[Andydodge]

But........how do they work?..........andyd

[bobostski]

The cap is spring loaded at the top. When the button is press it retracts a solenoid connected to a lever and allows the cap opens up. It cannot open unless you send electricity to it or use a claw hammer.