Does fuel cap or cover lock - 2006 Renault Clio 1.5

On the insignia you cant get to the rear of the fuel cap from the boot. Remove the rear wheel (use an axle stand to support the car please), take out the wheel arch liner (just a few screws). Take out the solenoid that operates the lock on the fuel cap cover (you may have to push it in and wiggle it, theres a hook that connects to the flap you'll have to wiggle out). Flap will be free. Clean around where the arm enters the solenoid in case theres a piece of grit stopping the arm from moving (unlikely, but...). Connect the solenoid to the loose wiring of the solenoid thats now hanging there and lock/unlock the car a few times to see if the arm is moving. If it doesnt move, the solenoid has gone, change it. If your not bothered to lock your cap you can leave the solenoid off !

We used to have a lot of trouble in the early days of that type of fuel cap. Previous types of locking fuel cap invariably had a simple bolt that emerged from the cap when locked which engaged onto the bayonet at the top of the filler neck.

The type of cap that has a clutch that disengages when locked so the cap spins freely was added security against fuel theft when the price of fuel began to exceed the price of beer - as if a determined thief would be stopped by any sort of fuel cap...

It is true this type of cap is harder to overcome than the previous type. Getting rough with it and levering it off is likely to cause more damage to the filler neck and because it is fuel only hand tools can be used for safety reasons. Mostly failure of the mechanism seems to be caused by the ingress of weather and dirt rather than breakages.

The only constructive advice I can offer is lots of patience. Using a propriety penetrating oil keep applying it copiously through the keyhole, gently tapping atop and around the cap and then applying compressed air through the keyhole and around. Put the key in and move to the locked postion and repeat as many times as required alternating between locked and unlocked.
It has sometimes taken an hour but only once have I needed to resort to harsher measures since those caps arrived here in 1980.

Periodically spraying a quality lubricant into the locks prevents this sort of trouble. I use a spray PTFE/silicone grease.

The central lock system won't exactly lock the fuel "cap" but it does have an actuator that extends to prevent the fuel door from opening when the doors are locked. Easy to test, as long as that's working then you're lucky enough to not have to bother with a locking gas cap & more keys!

I would contact a locksmith for this problem as it is only a tumbler barrel and can be keyed to your key

When the cel flashes continuously that means there is a problem that needs checked out right away. As for the fuel cap. The best thing to do is break off the outer cover then you can get to the part that connects to the fill pipe and turn it out.

Hello Alan,

I would suspect the fuel flap actuator has failed. Open the trunk. In the right rear corner is the access cover. Open it and you'll see some insulation matting near the top. Behind it is a fuse/relay carrier, I believe either fuse 55 or 56 is blown. If so the fuel flap actuator needs replaced. The fuse also controls the central locking system.

it comes apart from the bottom

The door to access the fuel filler compartment locks as part of the central locking system. If it is working properly, the fuel door is locked whenever the car doors are locked. However, if it doesn't lock when you lock the car, and you don't want to repair the central locking system (or part thereof), you will have to buy an aftermarket locking gas cap, since Jaguar doesn't offer one. You can find aftermarket gas caps at many online stores and catalog stores such as J.C. Whitney. Good luck.

There is a lock inside there, but it should only be actuated when you've locked your doors. By pushing the lock button on your key fob it locks your doors, rear hatch and your gas cap cover. Once you push the unlock button the lock inside will retract back allowing you to push on the cover. If you do have your doors unlocked, then it could be either the lock is not retracting as it should or the metal clip that the lock contacts with when in the out position may be bent out of shape and still in contact with the lock when the lock is retracted.

there should be a leaver by driver seat to release if you mean the fuel door if you mean locking cap then a screewdriver with a little force will remove the cap then you will need to replace with new cap