how do i open the gas tank door?

Just open the driver's door and look inside just to the front left in front of the driver's seat - and there it will be - a black lever with white letters denoting that it is for the gas tank!

 

Did somebody not read the owner's manual? shame shame.

 

Are there any recent cars that don't have the fuel filler door lever in that same place?

 

Most cars don't have a fuel filler door lever. If someone hasn't owned a car with one then they may not know where it is. But yes, any car that I've seen that had one had it in the same place.

 

My Miata had both the fuel filler door release and trunk release inside the center console under the arm rest.

 

Every car I've driven for the past 20 years has had one. That doesn't prove they are common, but at least they are common in the type of cars I drive.

Tom

 

Perhaps domestic cars don't commonly have them? I've been driving for 16 years and the Prius is the very first car I've owned that has a fuel release. I've owned a lot of cars in that period of time. I currently own 5 cars and the Prius is the only one of the 5 that has it. The others are all domestic though, so perhaps that's the difference? I've only owned 1 vehicle that was not domestic (a Nissan)... although that did not have a release either. On edit, my '03 Porsche had a fuel release... I'd imagine European cars commonly have them as fuel prices in Europe have been high much longer than they have been in the U.S. so fuel theft via siphon is probably more common.

Regardless, I'd imagine the thread starter and is like me and not used to a fuel door release.

 

My 2006 Toyota 4Runner's fuel release is below the steering wheel, right next to the hood release, only way to see it is if you get of the car and crouch down and look. I have to remember to pull the one on the right, otherwise I look dumb at the pumps, well I look dumb at the pumps with a car that gets 15 MPG.

 

Well, hunh. Thanks!

 

I did something like that last week. I reached down to adjust the steering wheel and pulled the hood release instead, so I had to get out, walk around, unlatch and then close the hood. It's always good to make sure it works once in a while.

Tom

 

lol...wow

best post of the month?
lol

 

The Intrigue has a button on the dash to pop the door so having it on the floor of the Prius is not intuitive to me. I stop so infrequently I forget where it is.

 

Yeah, sometimes I play it off as checking the oil, or just making sure the engine is still there...

 

1985 Nissan 200SX, had the lever/push button to the left of the steering wheel under the dashboard.
1991 Mazda MX-6 - had the lever on the left side of the driver's chair.
1998 Toyota Camry LE - left side of the driver's chair

That's all for the cars I've owned since '85....

 

I made sure to ask to salesman at the dealer before I drove off in my new Prius.

Why read a manual, when you can ask for the information?

Harry

 

You must have had a knowledgeable salesman. A lot of the ones experienced by PC members have no knowledge at all of the Prius... they just try to sell them (if there are some on the lot). I always initially read the owners manual when I get a new car... lots of stuff you will never know unless you do. Did you know about the hidden storage bins? (bottom front of console, trunk, etc).

 

This thread reminds me of the Kia ads where the drivers forget which side the gas tank door is.

 

Ummmm, because salesmen frequently give incorrect information?

 

Make you sure you ask the dealer which side of the road to drive on and directions back to your house. I can't imagine asking the dealer, or anyone, how to open the gas tank. There are only like 4 places tops it could possibly be and if all else fails I'll look in the manual instead of making a fool of myself. Have some pride or at the very least some common sense.

DYI is apparently going out of style.