Locking Gas Cap and Key

[bkfitz]

I've read the technical manual article on the Gas Cap.  For full members that is here: https://www.sl113.org/wiki/Fuel/LockingGasCap

  I believe mine is the correct OEM gas cap for a 68 280SL, but it may be a replacement because I'm not seeing a lock number on the hex backing of the gas cap.  Unfortunately, my key doesn't go into the lock fully (stops 1/2 way). 

Question: Does anyone know if this YMOS key is OEM delivered with the car by Mercedes, or perhaps a replacement? 

I can try to take the gas cap apart and lubricate with silicon spray or graphite, but if the key doesn't go in all the way, I'm thinking the key doesn't match my lock.  Otherwise, I suppose I'll call a locksmith to 're-key' the lock or make me a key that fits.  Any opinion on which is easier?

Thanks!

[Peter]

My experience is that a good locksmith (of car locks) can repair the cylinder and adapt it to the key.

[Charles 230SL]

..Does anyone know if this YMOS key is OEM delivered with the car by Mercedes, or perhaps a replacement?..

Looks like a replacement - I bought a new gas cap from the Classic Center about 7 years ago and your cap and key look same as mine (YMOS on the key and same lettering on back of the cap). hopefully you'll be able to get that key to work.

[bkfitz]

Thanks Peter and Charles!

[yves]

Brian , you can modify each "wafer" of the tumbler to match with your key. I have done that on my cap with the glove box key. Now this key is functionnal with the cap and the box .

[Jordan]

Brian, it may also be that one of the wafers in the tumbler has broken, preventing you from inserting the key fully.  I had the same issue with my drivers side door lock.  I found a broken wafer when I took it apart and just removed the pieces.  You don't need to replace the wafer, you can just remove it (the pieces of the broken one).  If the key is correct for the lock, then it should work.

[bkfitz]

This is all very helpful!  Thanks! 

Any tips for prying back the 'locating tab' to remove the 'locking collar'?  I've read they break easily.

[yves]

Mine was fitted "secured"  with a screw ....!

[bkfitz]

Good news:

I sprayed some silicon spray into the key hole and also into the back of the lock where the hex meets the locking hub, allowed it to sit for a few minutes.  I then tried my primary key (photo above in thread) and it still would not go into the keyhole.  Then I tried my spare key (which looks to be identical to the primary, and if anything a little more 'jagged'), jossled it around a bit and something must have cleared the way because now it works flawlessly. 

For those that stumble upon this thread, the way it works is you turn the gas cap all the way clockwise on the vehicle until it stops, then you insert the key and turn it 90 degress and pull it out.  The chrome 'cover' on the gas cap will then spin freely, making it impossible to unscrew the cap from the vehicle.

Of note, my spare key also has the TN# stamped on it, so I'm curious if the lock is original '68 (or a replacement sometime later).

Thanks again for everyones help!

[BobH]

Hello, assuming your car originally had 3 x keys, an ignition key, a door key and a boot/trunk key, then the door key should open the fuel cap

if your cap opens with a different key from the door, then the cap looks to be a replacement, particularly if it doesn't have a number stamped on it

My door key is a Ymos TV profile, and i have a fourth key that fits the cap, obviously a replacement, and the profile is Ymos TB

[NigelStn]

Hello
I have a Mercedes new old stock gas filler cap (A 000 471 20 30), but with no key.
Does anyone know what Ymos blank key I require?
It's single sided

Thanks

[Pawel66]

Hello
I have a Mercedes new old stock gas filler cap (A 000 471 20 30), but with no key.
Does anyone know what Ymos blank key I require?
It's single sided

Thanks

1. Is your car a one key car or earlier car with multiple keys?
2. Does the cap have a keyhole for symmetrical key or asymmetrical (like on the picture in Reply #1)?

If your car is a one key car and cap has symmetrical keyhole - there was one profile of key for Pagodas, you can buy a blank key at Mercedes or at locksmith. A locksmith can fit the cap to key so that you have still one key. It will not be Ymos, it will be Huff or replica brand.

If your car had multiple keys, the locksmith will check the profile for cap. If it happens to be the same profile as on your data card for this key, they can cut the key and lock to the data card code. If the profiles are different, locksmith will make a key just for the cap.

You can cut keys to lock or locks to keys, but you cannot change the profile - you would have to have spare lock cylinder of required profile. 

The part number of cap you have is for not defined key, key code should have been stated when it was ordered. Difficult to say what profile it has. You can try to look into keyhole and compare with chart attached.

[NigelStn]

Thank you very much that is great information.
I bought the cap a couple of years ago from a gentleman on this site, but am only now trying to sort out a key.
As you can see in the photo it's a one sided key

[yves]

Nigel, i think you can modifie the insie wafers as i did to match your glove box…
Well automatic writing on the Iphone....!
I rewrite... I think you can modify the barrels inside the lock mecanism as i did , so the glove box key could match the two locks.

[Pawel66]

So the cap has asymmetrical slot. Is your car a one key car or you have multiple keys?

If you have single key, unless you replace lock cylinder in the cap, you will need a separate key for the cap. Just take it to locksmith to determine profile or try to determine it yourself.

If you have multiple keys car, fuel cap is opened by the same key as doors. Try if you can insert your door key to the slot in the cap. If yes - you can ask locksmith to make the cap fit the door key and you are there. If not, you will need a separate key for the cap unless you replace the lock cylinder with one with the same profile as doors. Have locksmith determine profile or determine it yourself. Chances are your glovebox and trunk key fits the gas cap - then you will know the profile and can get the key done.

Locksmiths can fit the key to lock or lock to key if the profile is the same. If the profile is different, they cannot change it unless they have lock cylinder to change. That is what I learned working on it for 3 cars.

[NigelStn]

Thank you
My car is a one key car, but it did not have the original fuel (gas) cap.
I think that my easiest solution will be to find a locksmith, who can cut a key to fit.
My problem is finding a locksmith, who can do it in the UK!

[stickandrudderman]

I think you'll find it very difficult to get the non-original cap to fit the original key due to some major differences in the architecture of the tumbler.
I've been down that particular rabbit hole before.

[Pawel66]

I think the question is here to get the key done to this original cap and the issue is where to find a locksmith in the UK.

Sorry, that I would not know - I went to a "corner locksmith" shop and got done what I needed done...

[NigelStn]

I agree, I have found a locksmith that will cut a key to suit, but I have to dismantle the fuel cap.

[yves]

Unfortunately i had an issue with my key used both for hand box and gas cap ( see photos above and anterior post) my key is now too tired and can't align the wafers in the tumbler. So i need a new blank ( as for my ignition key) but can't recognize the right profil with the model in the tech manual.
Can some one help?
Photos of the gascap key and the ignition key

[yves]

And the key with wafer

[Pawel66]

I am attaching what I have on this topic, but I think your gas cap key is not a Mercedes key.

M68 H - not on the list and I cold not find a matching profile.

Your original key profile is noted on your datacard - if you take it to the locksmith, they will make you the required key. They may not have blank at hand, so if they are a good locksmith, they will look for it, if not, they will ask you to source it. They had my 1956 key codes in the computer, they will have yours as well.

Second option is to make the key as you have it now, just less worn and make the lock fit it.

Third option, make the lock fit the current key (probably fastest).

As for the ignition key - I am not sure, it could be YM12.

[yves]

Thank's Pawel for your post, the 3rd proposal is what i did some months ago with the handbox key to match the gas cap. It worked but the key is now too worn, so i must find a blank and adjust it with the wafers.
indeed the key is not original as the ignition one with a US mark on it.
I must also find a blank for t too

[Pawel66]

The ignition can be YM12, I am not sure.

I am getting confused as, although I believe we determined the VIN of switch to one-key car, I am not sure what happened right before it - if ignition got a symmetrical key first.

I am quite sure, however, that once car became a one-key one, there was only one key profile used.

You have info on ignition key in datacard as well.

[Pawel66]

Yes, I looked at my ignition key (one-key car), the profile is identical as yours. Again I think the profile for master key in one-key car was the same for all cars. I would not give my right hand for that, but so it looks.