Question: I just pulled up to the pump to fill my Camry, and the gas tank door is jammed. How do I open a stuck gas tank door on a Toyota Camry?
Answer:
The procedure to open the fuel tank cap on the newest Toyota Camry is to press and hold the fuel door button to the left of the steering wheel. However, this electronic switch might malfunction and that’s when you need to head to your emergency release for your fuel filler door.
Emergency lever to open Camry fuel filler door
According to the 2024 Toyota Camry manual, the emergency lever can be found on the left side of your trunk, on the top of the paneling. Look for a small hatch and open the cover, then pull the lever and you will be able to open the fuel filler door.
This is pretty useful to know if you are ever caught in a situation where there’s a fault in your electrical system that doesn’t allow you to open the fuel filler door.
Spring mechanism broken
Wear and tear can break the spring mechanism that pops the door open when you activate the fuel door release. In some Camrys, you have a lever on the floorboard that releases the lock on the fuel filler door. Think of it as releasing the deadbolt on your house’s door.
However, this doesn’t pop the door open. The automatic opening motion comes from a spring that you pre-loaded with a force when you closed the door. Without this spring, your door stays in place and you are going to need to use a key, credit card or something that can fit in the door jamb so you can open the door.
So, do this:
- Find something to keep the door lever in the up position. You can stuff socks, paper, flip-flops. This keeps your door unlocked.
- Then, go to your fuel door and lift the door with a thin lever. It should take little force to open.
- If you have a passenger you can have them press the fuel door release button while you use any tool you can find—a credit card or even a flathead screwdriver—to pry open the door.
If neither of these tactics works, it’s time to head to a mechanic.
To avoid this problem in the future, consider buying the replacement spring which should cost less than $10. Parts dealers sell these springs under the name “Fuel Door Spring” and the part number that fits some Camrys is 77360-35040.
Xuyun Zeng is a content strategist with a wide-ranging content background including tech, journalism, cars and health care. After graduating with highest honors in journalism, Xuyun led a newspaper to win eight awards, helped start an award-winning film industry podcast and has written over a hundred articles about cars repair, state laws and insurance. Prior to joining Jerry, Xuyun worked as a freelance SEO consultant with a mission to create the best content that will help readers and grow organic traffic.
Chris Burkhardt is a writer and editor with over a decade of experience across various storytelling mediums. With Jerry, Chris hopes to help anyone with a question about their vehicle easily find the answers they are looking for. Whether you need to know how much insurance costs for a classic car, how to replace a broken light or tell if you need an oil change, Chris wants to help you find solutions the best he can. Prior to joining Jerry, Chris was a digital content producer and writer for NBC and a freelance editor for NerdWallet. A graduate of the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication, if Chris is not working on content, he’s sure to be found cheering on his Ducks!
