Has anyone else had this problem? Do they make a better locking gas cap like a good metal one?
I bought a very nice, very well maintained 2003 Toyota Tacoma extra cab 2 years ago. Because a neighbor had some gas stolen out of his Chevy I bought a Stant Locking gas cap about 6 weeks ago. Just about 2 weeks back, I filled up my truck and when I put the cap back on it wouldn't lock. The key turned to the locked position but I could take the cap off. I was going to buy another one but had to wait until the end of the month. 2 days later my check engine light came on when I took my Dog to the Vet. Because of this stupid Covid-19 virus, I couldn't go inside. So while I was sitting in the parking lot I took that gas cap apart, just had to remove a plastic ring on the inside of the cap. I found that these Stant caps are not very well made. There are 2 plastic tabs on the lock cylinder that ride in grooves. But the tabs were able to jump the groves, the tolerances are very loose. This caused the part that disconnects the top of the cap to spin free to stay engaged so the cap can be removed. I guess I'm lucky because a friend of mine had the opposite happen and couldn't get the top of the cap from spinning. He wound up having to rip the top of the cap off to get to the inner workings to get the lower threaded part out.
When I reassembled the gas cap, I found that I could get the lock cylinder to jump it's groves again. So when I got home I decided to put the non-locking cap back on. I was thinking there might be an air leak in that cap because of the check engine light. But that didn't turn that light off, so now I need to pull the codes or take it to my mechanic. My luck it will be the O2 sensors. But the auto parts houses only seem to have the Stant gas caps around here and I'm now a bit skeptical about buying a plastic locking cap. I don't know how, but someone has siphoned gas out of my truck. Took almost half a tank after I filled it.
I'm now thinking of installing an aftermarket locking door over the gas cap. Has anyone installed an aftermarket locking door on their Tacoma? Is it a difficult process?
