[Bleeped]

So after work at home I exit my m235 and notice my gas door is open. I try to close it and it wil not "push in" like normal. So then I notice on the left on the inside near the ribbed plunger looking thing (on the car, not the gas door itself) there is a black rod about 1/2 long sticking out keeping the gas door from pushing back in and working correctly. I pushed this rod in with my finger and it slowly moved and inserted back wherever it came from. The gas door works now so it seems but unsure what is going on. What is the black rod thing that was sticking out preventing the gas door to push in? Is something broke?

[Sindarin]

That would be the lock plunger for the fuel filler door. When you lock your car that rod goes into a recess on the inside of the fuel filler door preventing it from being opened. You must of had the fuel filler door open then locked the car. Next time that happens just unlock the car and the lock rod will retract allowing you to close the fuel filler door. Nothing is broken, normal vehicle operation.

[vexingv]

Originally Posted by Sindarin

That would be the lock plunger for the fuel filler door. When you lock your car that rod goes into a recess on the inside of the fuel filler door preventing it from being opened. You must of had the fuel filler door open then locked the car. Next time that happens just unlock the car and the lock rod will retract allowing you to close the fuel filler door. Nothing is broken, normal vehicle operation.

that is correct. i had the same issue a few weeks ago when i accidentally hit lock on the comfort access door handle on the passenger door while i was filling up. then for the life of me, i couldn't figure out why the gas flap would not close. i only realized the doors were locked when i had to unlock to pull the door open

[ibeam81]

As Sindarin and vexing mentioned, it's most likely that you had your car locked.