When I opened my gas cap the other week, this small white piece fell out. It was cold outside and looks like it broke due to temperature. Has anybody else had this happen or know what the purpose of this piece is? Everything seems to operate fine without it.

 

That piece extends when you lock the car and retracts when you unlock it. It locks or unlocks your fuel filler door. Without it, the fuel filler door doesn't lock.

 

Ah, ok. Would your advice be to glue it back or let it be and not fix it?

 

I don't know how it's supposed to be connected to the solenoid. Gluing it back might work but I don't know that. If you're fine not being able to lock the fuel door, forget about it.