My 2003 S-Type 4.2 Fuel Door Won't Open and it gets worse!

When I press the release on the lower left dash, I can hear the 'click' of release, but it does not pop open.

Back in the 'old days' it would not be an issue, as there was an Emergency Release Tag that I could pull, but the Tag is no longer there. I suspect that it got 'lost' as the vehicle was backed into at a grocery store and the Rear Parking Assist Sensors and sending module had to be replaced with the bumper and the - and after that was completed there was no sound so they had to replace the $212.30 speaker located under the back ledge behind rear seats. Round about way of saying that there was significant repair work in the boot!

So today I spent a couple of hours removing the felt liner and trims and and and - in the trunk to access the release mechanism to manually release it only to discover that it is not visible from inside the boot, unless I am missing something obvious.

Where do I find access? I thought perhaps through the fender/wheel well, but if I recall, the filler area is sealed?

 

Keep looking in the trunk, it's either there or broken off. Also, try pressing in on the fuel door while a helper tries the dash switch.

 

If it's like an '02, the pull tab would be in the recess where the trunk hinge would close. If you pull the felt liner back in that area after removing that "T" nut holding the whole right side felt, it's almost right behind the fuel door assembly. Maybe some of the wire is still hanging, even if the actual tab is gone.

 

Thanks guys - that worked!