Fuel Flap locking mechanism broken? Help please

[luke4487]

Hey all,

2 months ago I went to fill up the car and found the fuel flap was jammed shut! Apparently a common problem with the Vectras? After much careful manipulation I managed to get the flap open and dismantle the mechanism.

With the case open I found that the motor was spinning to lock, but there was smoke coming out when trying to unlock and the motor would just click once....

Ordered a used part off ebay from a breaker and recieved it today... however its doing the same (uninstalled as I wouldnt want to risk jamming the flap again).

Now I wondered as I cant open the casing this time as it would void the return policy...

How does the lock work? There are two wires only... On first though I figured that the motor was a 2 way and can spin one way to lock, and the other to unlock?

But with two wires, I couldnt figure out how this was possible without literally changing the input wire... which wouldnt make sense as it would mean changing the earth point lol

Can anyone explain this otherwise simple system so I can fault find and check there is no fault with my vehicle.

I have the Signum with the 2 button fob (whole car only) and no boot lock/unlock buttons on the drivers window switch panel

[luke4487]

None else had this problem yet?

[merikiito]

Interesting fault you have, not heard of it before. I suppose you could assume that the one sent works and therefore the fault is elsewhere, where I don't know but as least its given you a bump

[luke4487]

Interesting fault you have, not heard of it before. I suppose you could assume that the one sent works and therefore the fault is elsewhere, where I don't know but as least its given you a bump

Thanks mate, found 2 other posts on here but they either don't answer it or aren't very clear. I ordered a spare second hand one in but same problem?

From the other posts I read I need to:
A) Check the fuse again...
B) See if there is a relay for it and test (which there must be as I think there is only 2 wires... and in order to change the direction of the motor surely the pos/neg would need to be reversed...

Anyone know if and where the fuel flap relay is???

[kenp]

its part of the REC

[luke4487]

I'm lost... whats the REC lol?

[kenp]

Rear electric center (rear fusebox), but the fuelflap, is also connected to the Central locking system, that is control by the Body Control Module

[rob 2.2dti]

when this happened to me i just fitted a locking fuel filler cap from hellfrauds and left the motor off.

[luke4487]

Did consider the locking fuel cap but don't want another key lol.

Kenp - do you know if there is a relay in the REC or only a fuse?

[kenp]

its pure electronic... no fysic relay.