I grabbed channel locks and rotated from the outside.Hey all. Late to the party but new to the Gladiator Ecodiesel. I just pulled the guts out of my fuel fill neck and wanted to share an easy way to do it.
I started by trying to push in the tabs but couldn't access the top one well enough to push it in. So I tried something different.
I found a pair of wire stripper pliers that when opened, would fit between the ribs inside the filler neck. I could get enough leverage on the pliers handles to twist the plastic fill assembly to disengage the 2 tabs. Then the assembly pulled right out.
Once out you can access the 3 tabs that hold the trap door assembly on the housing and pop it off the bottom.
Once it's off, pop the top piece back in the metal fill neck and you're done.
This is basically accomplishing the same thing as trying to turn it with channel locks, but less chance of a slip and scratched paint.
I saw this video... need the other part...
There is an o-ring on the outside of the plastic part so it's not a loose fit after rotating. Rotate it a quarter turn then turn it back and forth slightly while pulling outward on it. As shown in the video you need to work it out past the o-ring before you can easily pull it out by hand.
I haven't done it because I live in the great state of NJ where we don't pump our own fuel and I had two attendants in my first year of ownership attempt to put gas in it. I caught both of them before they attempted because I always make sure they grab the right one, but in the off chance I don't watch it's an extra fail safe for me.
Yesterday this was wonderful. There were lines for every pump 4 cars deep at the lowest price station in the state (CO 119 and I-25). But, the big rig pumps were open. So i pulled it in, removed the insert, fillerd up, and put the insert back in place. To be clear, it was tough to pull out, tougher than when I first practiced it in my warm garage. But not too tough for my multitool to grab and yank.
