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Need a Locking Gas Cap?

post #1 of 12
6/17/08 at 5:44pm
Thread Starter 
So my wife parks in a parking building for work and has been bugging me about a locking gas cap. Today, she noticed the cap was very loose and she thought she might be lower on gas than she should be.

I'm thinking it's not likely. After all the cap is behind a door that needs to be opened from the interior of the car. If it was pried open, it would show. Still she wants one, so I'd better get one.

Am I better off going to the dealer (2003 Honda CRV) or after market, like Napa? Who's going to have the best product?
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post #2 of 12
6/17/08 at 6:16pm

Re: Need a Locking Gas Cap?

Product will probably be exactly the same, but half the price at Napa. Never buy from the dealer.
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post #3 of 12
6/17/08 at 7:33pm

Re: Need a Locking Gas Cap?

I got mine at Walmart. (2003 GMC truck - it also fit my 1993 Chevy S10)

I can't guarantee they'll have one to fit your car but it wouldn't hurt to check.
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post #4 of 12
6/18/08 at 7:23am

Re: Need a Locking Gas Cap?

Don't cars from the past 20 years have grills in the gas tank inlet to block a siphon hose? Wouldn't that have to be broken first on your wife's car before gas could be siphoned? Can you check for that?
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post #5 of 12
6/18/08 at 8:56am

Re: Need a Locking Gas Cap?

^^^
interesting question. That would sure ease my mind. I've been thinking about getting one as well. The level on my gas gauge changes often...up and down. It's weird. I'm mostly on level ground. I think somebody is putting gas in mine heh!
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post #6 of 12
6/18/08 at 9:19am

Re: Need a Locking Gas Cap?

FWIW, I know I can siphon gas from my '93 S10 but I haven't tried the '03 GMC yet.
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post #7 of 12
6/18/08 at 9:59am

Re: Need a Locking Gas Cap?

Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveF
Don't cars from the past 20 years have grills in the gas tank inlet to block a siphon hose? Wouldn't that have to be broken first on your wife's car before gas could be siphoned? Can you check for that?
I've heard that too, that somehow newer vehicles cannot be siphoned.

I guess that's why some desperate people are just punching holes in the gas tank under the vehicle and draining the gas that way.

I also agree that if you have a gas cap door that cannot be opened except from inside the cabin, and the door has not been pried open, your wife may just be paranoid.
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post #8 of 12
6/24/08 at 5:33pm

Re: Need a Locking Gas Cap?

Quote:
After all the cap is behind a door that needs to be opened from the interior of the car. If it was pried open, it would show.
Those doors are ultra-easy to open with a credit card or blunt key. The cable on my old car broke so I had to break in every time I filled up the tank. Napa or other auto parts supply will have what you need.
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post #9 of 12
6/24/08 at 6:47pm

Re: Need a Locking Gas Cap?

From what I've read, the locking gas caps aren't real effective. According to CNN Money, Federal Law requires that caps have "breakaway" features, for safety reasons during a serious crash. So a thief with a pair of pliers and a little muscle can easily defeat a locking cap.
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post #10 of 12
6/24/08 at 7:28pm

Re: Need a Locking Gas Cap?

#1 cause of that pesky "check engine" light coming on is missing or loose gas cap, #2 is gas cap that doesn't hold both pressure and vacuum, i.e. wrong aftermarket locking caps. If you must buy one be very careful to make sure it will work with your specific make and model car.
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post #11 of 12
6/24/08 at 8:15pm

Re: Need a Locking Gas Cap?

Or get an OBD-II scanner and reset the code every few weeks. IMPORTANT don't reset right before a smog check and make sure the "monitor" programs have all run through. Putting the OEM cap back the week before the test would be a good idea too.

Miatas are very prone to throw a CEL even with a factory gas cap and even if you more-or-less tighten it up after filling.
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post #12 of 12
6/26/08 at 9:15am

Re: Need a Locking Gas Cap?

My Tacoma has a locking door over the cap. The Vulcan has a locking cap.
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