95'-00' Locking Fuel Door Latch Fix

So a few days ago, I was washing my taco and started messing with my locking fuel door, as it doesn't always want to unlock properly. After looking around, and messing with a few things, the flimsy plastic latch on the inside of the lock broke. So I began looking around for a way to fix it, and stumbled across another similar thread, where a member drew up a 3D printable part (Link to these 2 parts is at the bottom of this post). So I sent the .STL printable files to my brother, who has access to a 3D printer at work. I got the 2 pieces back later that day and headed home to install them so that my door would stop flying open when I come to a stop. I should have taken pictures along the way, but was in a hurry and forgot. The smaller of the two pieces: goes behind the "I" shaped end piece on the locking mechanism:
, and is to be rotated 90 degrees.

Next, apply epoxy/super glue to both of the 3D printed pieces and slide the larger of the two pieces:
over the "I" shaped end piece of the locking mechanism:
and pinch the two pieces together until the bonding material has settled.

Here are pictures of the final product:


Here is my final product: as you can see, i wrapped shop rags around the outside of the lock to keep the glue from settling on the lock and to also apply pressure for adhering. However, you can see a small scrape on the rightmost edge of the new latch, where it wraps around the latch along the inner wall of the fuel filler cavity. It seems to be just a smidge too wide, so I plan on taking a dremel to it until there is no more contact between the the two pieces.
Overall, this is a VERY quick and inexpensive fix, thanks to my brother and his coworker that coordinates the 3D printing. If you have 10 minutes and a broken latch, I highly recommend going this route. Thanks

Link to 3D printable parts: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:27563/#files (both pieces)

 

I have taken a few classes in using AutoDesk designer and sending the final image to a 3d printer. I can see that as the cost of 3d printers comes down more and more fixes like this will be out there. In my experience, 3d printers take too long to print... somethimes overnight for a simple gizmo.

 

I totally agree about the growing of 3D printable objects. I used several printers in an Engineering class that i took in High School. If i was to print that same part with one of the printers that I've used in the past, it may have taken an hour for a high quality product. We made all kinds of things, CO2 cars, rockets, ball bearings, etc... Speaking of which, i made my CO2 car a reg cab tacoma, which I still have a picture of:


notice the "TOYOTA" on the front (didn't turn out too well) and "NITTO" on the tires.

 

That is cool and 3d printing is bad ass! Unfortunately im old and would have more luck teaching a squirrel to fly an airplane than getting anything out of a 3d printer.
My solution to the same problem...
Welding wire and epoxy putty.

 

Proof rite there!
Doubled up on the pics!
F computers!
Not really, but ya f computers
Lol!

 

Great write up but I'm with him... 3d printing is above my pay grade.

 

Check it out. Lock lever sold on eBay

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255460089143

 

This must be your product.....