Ford S-Max fuel cover - hinge broken

[MikeO]

When I closed my fuel filler cover, there was a "click" and now the spring action doesn't work and it swings open when driving. I can lock it when closed. How do I access the hinge mechanism to see what's wrong?

[gregers]

 ,mike.
is this any help?
http://eucatparts.com/?action=cat_ford_part&s_id_part=1248828&s_id_model=118

whereabouts in the south east are you?

[MikeO]

Hi I'm near Portsmouth.
The drawing shows the parts, but I need to know how to get at it to see what's broken.

[insanitybeard]

I suspect a plastic lug or something similar has probably broken internally in the hinge mechanism, which you may not be able to see. To access the housing is either going to be achieved by dropping the wheelarch liner below the housing or maybe by removing the quarter trim on the interior of the vehicle, I'm not sure which. In any case, I'd be surprised if you can successfully repair it, it's more likely to need a replacement housing/hinge assembly. Usually, on the circular shaped fuel filler housings you release a screw and rotate the housing to 'unlock' it from retaining lugs so it can be removed, being that the housing is oblong/oval shaped on the S-Max/Mk3 Galaxy it must have a slightly different procedure to remove it, the diagram implies it may have a set of snap-fit plastic lugs.