Fuel Filler Solenoid removal

[kimyfa]

Hi Folks
Love my Megane CC but geeze is it troublesome, the solenoid for the fuel cap lock is not working. Well it works in so much as you can feel it move when you lock and unlock the car but not in so much as the locking rod coming out to lock the flap. So what I want to know is how to get it off, I have removed all the boot lining and using my phone camera have peered inside the side panel but there appears to be no bolts etc holding the solenoid in place from the inside so I suspect these are on the outside inside the wheel arch??? So do I have to remove the filler cap surround and if so how? I have removed the 2 screws but the surround dont want to move is there other things I need to undo or is there another way to get the solenoid out?
Assistance / advice really appreciated
Dave

[lee00069]

I havent removed it on my cc before but i removed it on the hatch.
i think if you take the wheel off and then the wheel arch cover off ,
you will probably be able to get to it from there .

[kimyfa]

yeah thats what I was wondering sounds like it could be an involved job hmmm, trying hard with the WD40, just out of interest should you be able to see the end of the locking pin in the guide within the cap surround, I can see the hole but no obvious pin.

[davelowe]

WD-40 isn't the exact tool. You need penetrating oil - WD stands for 'water dispersant' - it does as it says, but you aren't trying to remove water.

[ChrisM]

I belive it twsits to get it out, if you can feel it working use penetrating oil on the gap where the flp and plastic rod are and keep looking and unlocking car mine was jamed shut as well I just kept soaking it after around 10 mins of squirting and locking etc it finally gave up and let me in, I tried to locate it in the boot and it looked a right pig to get out so I tried the squirt method, (Renault TEc idea) seemed to work for me and flap is fine now.