Gas door actuator won't unlock!!

I have found several topics while searching but I haven't found an answer to this particular problem. My gas door actuator will lock, but it won't unlock. Has anyone else had this problem? When I lock it with the gas door open, I see it pop out(lock), but when I unlock, it stays out. I have to manually push it back in or use the emergency open tether in the trunk when the gas door isn't open. Please help. Do I need to replace the actuator? What would make it work one direction and not the other? Thanks for help in advance.

Originally Posted by titans99

I have found several topics while searching but I haven't found an answer to this particular problem. My gas door actuator will lock, but it won't unlock. Has anyone else had this problem? When I lock it with the gas door open, I see it pop out(lock), but when I unlock, it stays out. I have to manually push it back in or use the emergency open tether in the trunk when the gas door isn't open. Please help. Do I need to replace the actuator? What would make it work one direction and not the other? Thanks for help in advance.

Something is broken or it's dirty. See if you can remove the part from the car to examine it. May be able to just clean it to make it work again.

I just pulled back the trunk liner and re aligned the locking bar and it worked again. Definitely try to fix it yourself before buying another.

Two thoughts:
The pin itself may be bent, causing it to stick when you try to unlock it. This usually happens when people lock their doors when the gas door is open, and then slam the door shut. Try bending the pin either up or down, and see if that fixes it. You can get an idea if it is rubbing by opening the gas door, locking your doors, then closing your gas door against the pin, and see if it looks too high, low, or pushed too far back to engage properly. This would be my first bet.

The second would involve the GM5 module failures, which play havoc with door locks. Since the gas door is controlled by the same module, it could possibly be affected. Email the guy who runs the website below, and he can help determine if this may be the issue:
http://www.bmwgm5.com/

Well, it's not bent from what I can tell. Would it be normal for an actuator to fail only in one direction? I find that odd. I will pull it out to see if it needs cleaning and lubed. Will post back.

Originally Posted by titans99

Well, it's not bent from what I can tell. Would it be normal for an actuator to fail only in one direction? I find that odd. I will pull it out to see if it needs cleaning and lubed. Will post back.

No, it would not be normal for an actuator to fail in one direction.
Did you look at the link about the GM 5 module though?

Mine has t worked right in forever. I messed with the code reader/programming software i have and I worked right for about a week. No errors in the system but its back to not locking and when I does lock after a few days. It stays locked.
Before I buy a new actuator. Any other suggestions? I saw something about wd40. Which I'm gonna try since when I pull one back with the emergency release it feels tight. Is that normal?

Also, my detent pin def rubs the has door hole on the way out. U can see paint on the pin and run marks on the inner of the lil door. So could mine just be dirty and misaligned?

Originally Posted by Snik

Mine has t worked right in forever. I messed with the code reader/programming software i have and I worked right for about a week. No errors in the system but its back to not locking and when I does lock after a few days. It stays locked.
Before I buy a new actuator. Any other suggestions? I saw something about wd40. Which I'm gonna try since when I pull one back with the emergency release it feels tight. Is that normal?

Also, my detent pin def rubs the has door hole on the way out. U can see paint on the pin and run marks on the inner of the lil door. So could mine just be dirty and misaligned?

If it has been misaligned for a while before it stopped working, then the actuator may be burned up/worn out. Lubricating the mechanisim, after you bend it up so it is aligned correctly, is a place to start. If you get it lubricated, and aligned correctly, and it still does not work reliably, meaning every time it should lock or unlock, then you may need to replace the actuator.

Ok. Thanks. Will try that 1st then.