[dhiller123]

Before anyone goes "spray some silicone on the gasket/seal and latch pin, thus is NOT my problem as of right now. I've done that prior to correct the sticky door.

My car is an early '11 model. Suddenly the other day, the charge door would not open. I assumed it was just sticking, like the other thousand posts on the forums have been about. The difference I'm seeing (or actually hearing) is that I hear the relay from the underhood fuse center click when I hit the button on the key fob, or on the door panel. I DO NOT hear the solenoid/actuator activating when i push the buttons. Have I lost the actuator?? Is there a manual way to get the charge door open??


Diller
'11 Volt Premium

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

 

[Barry]

I don't think there is any practical way to open that without some serious mechanic work that I personally would not attempt myself. You are probably right about losing the actuator. If you are lucky, it might be a fuse, or maybe the relay, despite it sounding ok. You could fix those yourself. On the bright side, I believe the Voltec warranty covers it. Hopefully you are still within the warranty mileage.

 

[Joe67]

It sounds like a dealer visit is in order, keep us posted!

 

[Fyodor]

You are doing well to have had it last so long. I went through multiple rounds of cleaning and lubricating, which seemed to help at the time, but only as long as the solenoid gradually failed. Once it quit completely the whole mechanism was replaced under warranty, whether B to B or Voltec I don't know. Three years on I just give it a shot of silicone before winter and have had no more problems.

 

[driver779]

Say, perhaps its related to the recent temp drop of -33 degrees in our region? Because I noticed mine was frozen on my 2012, my solution was to use steam from boiling water, let that sit for a bit, just enough to get the plastic to loosen up so I could keep pushing on it until it opened up. Despite hitting the keyfob/charge door release multiple times, this did the trick. I've never had to do this with the gas filler cap.

As you are aware, there is no manual release for this without damaging the thing. Of course GM updated this later on, so your cries will fall on deaf ears. I don't know how far away you are in WI, but I found Cernhous Chevrolet in Prescott, WI to be very accommodating!