Had this problem on my previous 85 Westy awhile back. WD-40 got it working, but had a locksmith later tell me it would happen again since the locking cylinder was really dirty with years of grime. He cleaned it up and it worked for several more years until I sold the van.

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On Apr 14, 2011, at 9:36 PM, Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU> wrote:

> I found out this evening, when I stopped to fill my nearing-empty tank, that
> I can't get the key into the lock on the gas tank cap.
> 
> Has this happened to anyone else before?  The key works fine in the ignition
> and the doors, so I assume the problem is in the lock.  I will try other
> keys, but I doubt that will solve it.
> 
> I figured I'd start by talking to the locksmith shop on the corner, rather
> than talking to a vanagon repair person.  Unless anyone has other
> suggestions?
> 
> 
> 
> Joy
> 
> oh, and in case it matters - '89 vanagon.  But on this issues, I can't
> imagine it would matter.