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Fuel cap tether - fix
- Deepseaskateboard
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1017
- Joined: Sun Sep 27, 2015 9:53 pm
Fuel cap tether - fix
Ever since owning my car, my fuel cap tether broke.
It’s a flimsy piece of plastic, which looks like it is designed to break.
Since the fuel cap still worked, I didnt want to buy a new one.
Eventually… four years later I stumbled upon this product:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/402607908793
This is an inexpensive fuel tether replacement.
I can confirm it serves as a fix for the e89 fuel cap.
I removed the fuel filler cap, and inserted into a vice.
I used a 4mm drill bit in a hand powered drill to drill out the old rubber connector. It is housed in a plastic moulding on the bottom ring of the fuel filler cap, which should freely rotate. It will need a clean to have it rotate again.
Once the old plastic connector is fully removed, the new tether can be inserted through the hole into the connector housing. (Probably an elaborate term for the small piece of plastic which does this function).
Inserting this requires some force, but you don’t want a loose fit. I used a small knife to push the plastic end through the hole.
After the new tether is in, I used some epoxy putty to fill the hole in the housing, and lock the tether in place.
Epoxy putty is great for plastic repairs.
The new tether is thicker and looks more robust than the original version.
I have attached an image if the finished item.
It’s a good little fix for a common issue. Not seen it covered on here before, perhaps most people don’t have the issue or are not bothered, but it’s always annoyed me when filling up!
I hope this helps someone!
It’s a flimsy piece of plastic, which looks like it is designed to break.
Since the fuel cap still worked, I didnt want to buy a new one.
Eventually… four years later I stumbled upon this product:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/402607908793
This is an inexpensive fuel tether replacement.
I can confirm it serves as a fix for the e89 fuel cap.
I removed the fuel filler cap, and inserted into a vice.
I used a 4mm drill bit in a hand powered drill to drill out the old rubber connector. It is housed in a plastic moulding on the bottom ring of the fuel filler cap, which should freely rotate. It will need a clean to have it rotate again.
Once the old plastic connector is fully removed, the new tether can be inserted through the hole into the connector housing. (Probably an elaborate term for the small piece of plastic which does this function).
Inserting this requires some force, but you don’t want a loose fit. I used a small knife to push the plastic end through the hole.
After the new tether is in, I used some epoxy putty to fill the hole in the housing, and lock the tether in place.
Epoxy putty is great for plastic repairs.
The new tether is thicker and looks more robust than the original version.
I have attached an image if the finished item.
It’s a good little fix for a common issue. Not seen it covered on here before, perhaps most people don’t have the issue or are not bothered, but it’s always annoyed me when filling up!
I hope this helps someone!
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Last edited by Deepseaskateboard on Wed Jul 14, 2021 11:52 am, edited 2 times in total.
- M1k3yC
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- Location: Stafford
Fuel cap tether - fix
Thanks for sharing. Mine has been broken for as long as I can remember on my E86 so I might look into fixing it now. I just assumed that it would be impossible to buy a replacement tether alone and therefore an uneconomical fix.
2022 Hyundai Kona N - greyhound transport
2018 F56 Mini JCW
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Gone to a good home: 2007 E86 3.0Si Sport
2018 F56 Mini JCW
2016 MX-5 2.0 Sport Recaro
Gone to a good home: 2007 E86 3.0Si Sport
- Deepseaskateboard
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Fuel cap tether - fix
Yeah, exactly. I was glad these were for sale!
- mr.tourette
- Lifer
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Fuel cap tether - fix
Thats a good fix and something that needs doing on mine, I'll put it on the to do list
if its got tits or tyres..its trouble
Fuel cap tether - fix
I went with the complete unit ..
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144070794399 ... 1497.l2649
And got one for my Volvo XC70 which I had also managed to break..
Not fitted either yet but assume its a bit easier than yours?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144070794399 ... 1497.l2649
And got one for my Volvo XC70 which I had also managed to break..
Not fitted either yet but assume its a bit easier than yours?
- Deepseaskateboard
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Fuel cap tether - fix
Ah I see.Pbondar wrote: ↑Wed Jul 14, 2021 12:30 pm I went with the complete unit ..
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144070794399 ... 1497.l2649
And got one for my Volvo XC70 which I had also managed to break..
Not fitted either yet but assume its a bit easier than yours?
Prior to doing this job I didnt understand how this one fitted to the cap.
It replaces the ring, rather than just clipping over it, as I thought originally.
This is a better fix yeah, but not sure how to fit.
- R.E92
- Senior Member
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Fuel cap tether - fix
How does the length compare vs the original?
I've tried these replacements in the past and found them all to be shorter.
You shouldn't have to do any drilling or gluing. The old one pulls out and the new one push fits in place.
I've tried these replacements in the past and found them all to be shorter.
You shouldn't have to do any drilling or gluing. The old one pulls out and the new one push fits in place.
- Zed Baron
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- Location: Scotland
Fuel cap tether - fix
I bought a replacement strap from ebay but it turned out to be a bit shorter complained to the seller and got it for nothing
- Deepseaskateboard
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Fuel cap tether - fix
The length fits ok, the outer ring rotates freely, but gets gummed up.
Ill take a pic in situe.
As for drilling, I used a hand drill to carefully remove the old broken off part, it may be possible to remove this without a drill, but when I was doing this, it was part exploratory in nature.
- Deepseaskateboard
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- Probocop
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- Location: Fife, Scotland
Fuel cap tether - fix
Have wondered before... what's actually the point in the tether?
2007 Z4M Coupé - Midnight Blue
1988 VW Transporter - Slate Blue
2008 E82 123d - Space Grey
2009 Abarth 500 Esseesse - Campovolo Grey
1988 VW Transporter - Slate Blue
2008 E82 123d - Space Grey
2009 Abarth 500 Esseesse - Campovolo Grey
- mr.tourette
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Fuel cap tether - fix
to stop you dropping the cap on the floor i assume or leaving it on the roof of your car
if its got tits or tyres..its trouble
- Probocop
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Fuel cap tether - fix
Dropping it, I suppose a fair point. It only ever goes as far as the little holder though!mr.tourette wrote: ↑Wed Jul 14, 2021 2:21 pmto stop you dropping the cap on the floor i assume or leaving it on the roof of your car
2007 Z4M Coupé - Midnight Blue
1988 VW Transporter - Slate Blue
2008 E82 123d - Space Grey
2009 Abarth 500 Esseesse - Campovolo Grey
1988 VW Transporter - Slate Blue
2008 E82 123d - Space Grey
2009 Abarth 500 Esseesse - Campovolo Grey
- Deepseaskateboard
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1017
- Joined: Sun Sep 27, 2015 9:53 pm
- mr.tourette
- Lifer
- Posts: 4294
- Joined: Thu Aug 27, 2015 9:16 am
- Location: north wales
Fuel cap tether - fix
Nowadays yes, i remember back in the day though it always going on the roof of my car as there never used to be the wee holders..i guess at some point the belt and braces approach became more common, maybe they only put the holders in when they realised the tethers only lasted a few yearsProbocop wrote: ↑Wed Jul 14, 2021 2:24 pmDropping it, I suppose a fair point. It only ever goes as far as the little holder though!mr.tourette wrote: ↑Wed Jul 14, 2021 2:21 pmto stop you dropping the cap on the floor i assume or leaving it on the roof of your car
if its got tits or tyres..its trouble