Gas Lid Would Not Open!!HELP!!!??

[akito]

My gas tank is low and the warning light is on. Knowing my car, i can at most drive for another 20-30miles extra. So, this morning before school, i stopped by Shell to refuel. I pull the gas lid lever and nothing happened. It happened once before, but before i had a friend with me and she lightly pulled on the lid and it would pop out. However, i couldnt get it open at all. I left Shell and went to pick the same girl up. I asked her to do the same thing but this time it was shut tight and would not budge at all. We then switched, she pulled the lever and i try to pull the lid, only a with a little force. Still nothing happened. I left for school, hopefully i will have enough fuel to drive back to work at Toyota and find a way to fix it. Would the cold weather had anything to do with this??? Had this ever happened to anyone on here? Any tips?

 

[Push]

common issue...... I just use my incredible hulk muscles to lift the gas lever every time.

 

[akito]

I didnt want to use anything hard to pry it out. Im afraid it would fuck u pthe paint..

Edit: I love your avatar:naughty:

 

[Strait 666]

dont pry the gas door. either pullup on the lever harder or pull the cable another way. the cables stretch over time, mine feels like it wont open until i pull it hard.

 

[MassSupra89]

Happens to mine all the time.
I stick my cellphone under the lever(LG VX7000 is perfect size btw. lol) and go wiggle the door out.
When I first bought the car I stopped on my way home from the dealership and it took some fighting and prying to get out. Probably hadn't been filled up in months/years.

 

[csr ma71]

Pop the trunk, pop open that lid rightside inside of your trunk, feel a 7 shaped thing, push it and it'll pop open.

 

[akito]

^^^ Thanks for the tip. Thanks guys. I guess this is just common on our 20 year old cars eh.

 

[KeithH]

You will either want to replace the cable - or go the route I chose and install a solenoid.

I also agree - do NOT pry. It will wreck the paint. You can pop out the panel in your interior and reach up inside and find the release lever - you will have to feel around in there.

 

[Saavedro88]

My release lever stopped working a long time ago, but the lid was so bent it sat tight up against the fender anyways. So I removed the little release trigger and now I just bang on the other side of it till it cracks open enough to get my fingers in it.

I like the Solenoid Idea though, where did you get the solenoid and what all was involved?