Nissan Maxima: How to Release Fuel Door

If you’re new to the Nissan Maxima, you might be unsure about how to open this car’s fuel door. That’s understandable, as the process is a little different to many other makes and models of car. It also varies, depending on the age of the vehicle in question.

In this guide, we’ll cover how to release the fuel door on various Nissan Maxima generations, with step-by-step instructions to guide you.

How to Open the Fuel Door on an 8th Generation Nissan Maxima (2016-Now)

If your Nissan Maxima was made in any year from 2016 onward, it’s part of the 8th generation. Many people who are new to this car struggle to figure out the fuel door at first. There’s no button inside the cabin to open it up. Instead, you have to open the door manually. Here’s how:

1. Get out of the vehicle and make sure the driver’s door is unlocked. To do so, either unlock the car with your fob or press the power door lock switch inside the vehicle. You can also press the door handle request switch on the driver’s side.
2. With the door unlocked, walk back to the fuel door and push firmly on the right side of the door. It should pop open, giving you access to the fuel cap.

How to Open the Fuel Door on a 7th Generation Nissan Maxima (2009-2015)

For slightly older Nissan Maximas, dating back to the 7th generation, the process is almost identical. In fact, the only difference is that all the doors (not just the driver’s) need to be unlocked before the fuel door will open.

1. Get out of the car and use the key fob to unlock all doors. Or press the unlock button in the car before you step out.
2. Push firmly on the right side of the fuel door, then let go. That should cause the door to pop open, giving you access. From there, you can simply twist the fuel cap open and start refueling.

How to Open the Fuel Door on Other Nissan Maximas

In older Nissan Maxima cars, the system is more traditional, with a small fuel door release lever you can find and pull.

1. Locate the fuel door release lever. It should be situated on the driver’s side, left and down from the steering wheel. It will have a fuel symbol on it.
2. Pull the lever towards you to release the fuel door.
3. You can then exit the vehicle and pull the door open. Note that you may also need to push on the rear side of the door to get it to fully pop open, depending on the age of your car.

How to Open a Stuck Fuel Door on a Nissan Maxima

Unfortunately, there may be situations where none of the above methods work. No matter what you do, the fuel door will remain shut, refusing to budge open even an inch. This can be a nightmare situation, especially when you’re low on gas and need to refuel. However, there are a few workarounds to try:

• Try unlocking and locking the doors a few times with your key fob to see if the fuel door eventually opens up.
• Use the interior lock button to lock and unlock the doors, or the button on the driver’s door handle. A low key fob battery or poor signal could be keeping the fuel door closed.
• A faulty actuator may be to blame. In that case, you may be able to remove the actuator via the trunk or underneath the gas tank. However, this will leave your fuel door unlocked all the time. So you’ll want to get a new actuator fitted as soon as possible.

FAQs

How can I lock the fuel door?

In older Nissan Maximas, the fuel door will lock automatically when you shut it. You’ll have to press the interior button again to unlock and open it, so nobody else should be able to open it from outside. In newer models, you’ll need to lock your car doors with the key fob or interior lock button. That’ll lock not only the driver and passenger doors, but also the fuel door.

How do I remove the gas cap?

To remove the gas cap in your Nissan Maxima, just turn it counter-clockwise. Depending on the age of your vehicle, you may notice a little holder on the inside of the fuel door. Once you remove the cap, you can sit it in that holder while you fill the tank. Once you’re done refueling, put the cap back and twist it in a clockwise direction until you hear a click.

Unlock Your Maxima Fuel Door the Right Way

There you have it. How to open your Nissan Maxima fuel door with ease. Just remember that the system will vary depending on the age of your Maxima. For older vehicles, look for the fuel door release lever. In newer models, simply unlock and push the door to open. If it gets jammed and won’t open, no matter what you do, you may have to visit a mechanic for help.

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