Filling up

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
View Threaded
Mon 21 Jun 2004 09:45
Filling up - L'escargot
When I fill up, I unlock the petrol cap cover and leave the keys in the cover until I've finished. It occurred to me the other day that as I have my hands full when filling up ~ filler cap in left hand and pump nozzle in right hand ~ I am giving any nearby lowlife the chance to pinch my car keys. I suppose I ought to take the keys out of the cover and put them in my pocket before I proceed to fill up. Wouldn't it be better if the lock was in the filler cap rather than in the cover? That way, filler cap and keys would be in left hand together.
--
L'escargot by name, but not by nature.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 21 Jun 2004 10:06
Filling up - pdc {P}
Why not just get a car which has a release catch on the inside of the car, and therefore no requirement for you to use keys to open the flap?
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 21 Jun 2004 10:13
Filling up - Ford Dagenham
Hi

Maybe he doesent want a new car just so he can unlock the cap from the inside.
--
(iam not a mechanic)

Martin Winters
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 21 Jun 2004 10:18
Filling up - pdc {P}
Well, I know of many models of older car which had the lock on the cap, and not on the flap.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 21 Jun 2004 10:53
Filling up - teabelly
My old croma had a push button to unlock the filler. I also leave the keys in the filler flap on my current car but it would be a foolish thief that tried to steal my keys while I had a large blunt instrument pumping out flammable liquid in my hand :-)

How about filling from the side the keys are on rather than the other side of the flap? Your keys would then be between you and the car.You might have to do a few contortions with elbows to reach round to get the nozzle in though!
teabelly
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 21 Jun 2004 10:18
Filling up - Stuartli
pdc {P}

Bit of an expensive solution to a simple problem...:-)

L'escargot

I would have thought that if you lock the cover and remove the keys you should still be able to close the cover after filling up.

Worth a check. I have an internal fuel flap release so don't have the problem now, but that's what I used to do; the method also works with my glovebox lid.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 21 Jun 2004 10:51
Filling up - Jonathan {p}
Most cars that have a flap also have a slot inside it for putting the filler cap into while filling up.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 21 Jun 2004 11:11
Filling up - escort man
Mine rests quite comfortably against the rear spoiler which not only prevents it from rolling off the boot, but partly hides it from view too.

Besides it would be a very silly theif who risks my free hand putting his face into the bodywork, all for a 12 year old escort!!
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 21 Jun 2004 11:20
Filling up - Dynamic Dave
Why not just place the filler cap on the pump?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Looking for a garage you can trust? Honest John's Good Garage Guide has thousands of reader recommended garages, plus how-to guides and tips on servicing.

The Good Garage Guide

Cold-snap snow-how: Advice on coping with the freezing weather, including videos, facts and winter driving advice.

Honest John's Guide To Winter Tyres