Service flap release handle broken

froggy

froggy

Member
I can see a LOT of threads on broken service flaps, my problem is inside the car. The release handle just slides back and forth loosely without doing anything. I can manually open and close the service flap and until today was happy with that.

Today I had the amber low oil level light come on and sure enough dipstick confirmed. Topped up, but the light still comes on. Hunting around the various threads, Birchall helpfully confirmed the service flap as the most likely culprit as the engine management needs to sense the flap has been opened for top up.

My alarm does intermittently arm (flashing hazards on lock) so hopefully I just need to fix this handle mechanism. Is this a DIY job?
 
i often catch mine when plugging the code reader in, the handle is not broken. if you can lay on your back with a torch you will see the forked end of the handle has detached from the cable lever, you need to pull the lever slightly and push the handle back under the lever. it is easier to do the Rubik cube i know but it is doable
hope this is of some help
 
If you have topped up your oil then you will already have opened the service flap, the switch to sense that it has been opened is activated when the flap opens/closes and not when the handle is operated. So if the flap is now closed correctly the oil level issue is caused by something else.
 
The flap microswitch does need to show closed as Steve B has said to reset the low oil warning ( if there is still an issue after the reset then you have a oil level sensor issue ). If the flap is opening manually then it is not locking shut and will be the source of the alarm. As steve54 has said make sure the handle is connected to the cable as it can pop off the location. It has to be disconnected to lower the "drivers storage area" to access the brake switch etc and may have been left disconnected or knocked off accidentally.
Other area to check is the lock mechanism on the slam panel as this can get gummed up with road debris and grease so give this area a good clean and make sure the lock slides in and out.

If the service flap microswitch is not closed then when you lock the car the indicators will not flash and the door led displays a different sequence.
 
🤔 Parked on a slope last night for about four hours, drove around the corner and the oil level warning light didn’t come back on. In my case the rubber is intact over the service flap microswitch so maybe it was able to tell it was shut but not open? Anyway, the light is out, but I did notice the little locking lever is rusted solid behind the service flap, so will attempt to free this up and reattach the interior release handle.

Cheeky additional question - I’m going to attempt to fit my mud flaps today - is it as simple as removing the arch lining screws, lining up the flap and replacing the screws?
 
froggy said:
Cheeky additional question - I’m going to attempt to fit my mud flaps today - is it as simple as removing the arch lining screws, lining up the flap and replacing the screws?
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From memory I think one or two of the arch liner screws get re-used, but the other holes in the mudflaps need more screws to self-tap (little pilot-holes to help them won't hurt). There should also be two or three clips with each mudflap, which have to be extended out of their plastic housings to fit the flap in position, and then pushed home once in place. I think these are a lot of what keeps the mudflaps on the car. Do them first, they will hold the flap while you add the screws.
 
Proghound said:
From memory I think one or two of the arch liner screws get re-used, but the other holes in the mudflaps need more screws to self-tap (little pilot-holes to help them won't hurt). There should also be two or three clips with each mudflap, which have to be extended out of their plastic housings to fit the flap in position, and then pushed home once in place. I think these are a lot of what keeps the mudflaps on the car. Do them first, they will hold the flap while you add the screws.
Click to expand...
Yes, I got the little clips when I bought the mud flaps and was wondering how to use them, thank you!
 
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