Help! Busted locking gas cap removal advice needed!

[OvenMaster]

It's always something.

Wednesday morning, I gotta take Mom's battleship (aka her '91 Crown Vic wagon) to the garage to get the parking brake cable fixed so that she can get her new state inspection sticker.

Over a year ago, we put on a locking gas cap. For her sticker, we put the original back on at home so they can test it, and replace it with the locking one when I get back home. Something about the test jig they use doesn't quite fit right on locking ones, or some such. Fine.

This afternoon, I'm out there with the key to swap caps.

No good.

The key goes in, supposedly unlocks it, but I can't get it to turn counterclockwise except to make these awful "clack" noises that sound like it's breaking inside.

Now what? How do I get the locking cap off?

[markthefixer]

Try some WD-40 and jiggling to free up the petrified mechanism... something didn't drop free when the lock cylinder turned.

UNLESS somebody points out that something in the WD-40 will poison the gas in the car to some element in the system (pump, injectors, cat conv etc...).

IIRC, the clack clack is the normal sound when trying to open when not unlocked.

[240sx4u]

Mark, WD40 won't hurt anything. I have used it in engines a bunch of times.

[grumpy]

I have pried more then a few of the old style stants off with screwdrivers.

[Twenty20Man]

in my best Roseanne Rosannadanna voice "it's always sumptin"

[Sandy G]

What about getting a pair of Vise-Grips in there, & maybe unscrewing it w/them ? Maybe it just needs a bit more "persuation"

[similost]

drill the lock?

[OvenMaster]

When I turn the cap counterclockwise to open in the "unlocked" position, it seems like the screw-in part is stuck in place so badly, it's breaking off the internal ratchet pawls; when turning clockwise, the pawls make the normal "click! click! click!" so it supposedly won't overtighten.

Yeah, right.

When the key is removed in the "locked" position, the cap spins freely in both directions.

I'll try the WD-40. If that doesn't work, then SWMBO says to let the garage deal with getting it off and then put the saved original cap back on. If crooks want the gas that badly, let 'em have it. Thanks, guys.

Tom

[John James]

I have pried more then a few of the old style stants off with screwdrivers.

Did you also have a short piece of hose with you there in the dark?:D:D:D

[VinylHanger]

Try pushing in on it hard while turning it. I just picked up a new one at Wally World and the first time I got gas with it, I suddenly realized the guy didn't need my key to open it.

Seems like it is broken out of the package. I just push on it and it catches and opens.

[OvenMaster]

Got it!
The mechanic gave the cap a couple of good hard love taps as shown... with her (yes, her) knuckle! Apparently it was so tightly screwed into the filler opening that it needed some help to jar it loose.
It's now resting in the trash can.
Thanks for all the ideas, guys. Lesson learned.

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/7624/stantcap1oj4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Regards from Tom