I searched and found something similar to this, but it did not answer my questions:

I pull the gas tank door lever and i hear a popping sound, but I go around to find that nothing has happened. I try forcing it (lightly) to open, but still a no go. How do I get to the latch and fix this? I ask mostly because the Haynes manual assumes that everyones gastank door works perfectly.

And the previous owner had parked the car for a good amount of time, and returns to find the ebrake had locked completly up. So instead of fixing the problem he gets the car "towed" so it breaks free. I can pull the brake up and the 1:2 converter works, I'd assume that theres a cable broken (or two), but I can't see any hanging cables or anything like that. My real question is: Is there any way to get to the ebrake cables that doesn't involve taking off the exhaust system AND the drivetrain just to fix it?

 

Get someone else to pull the gas tank leve and then use a plastic credit card or something to pry the door open... then lube the hing area with a lite grease and make sure the popper is working freely

2nd.... nope... yer screwed

 

Thats not true, I replaced all my e-brake cables without removing anything except the heat shield over the cats (covers the handle to 'T' cable). It is tight, and I do mean tight, but you can do it. Prepare for alot of cursing and yelling, I won't lie about that, but in the end, I guess it was easier...

 

From the S5 manual....

 

Yea, you can deal with the actual opener tab from the back, behind the carpet. Not a big deal. I'm sure there are people on the forum who use that to open their gas tank door every time.

-=Russ=-

 

I tried that, but the little tab put up one helluva fight. I had to double team the little f*cker and pull on the tab while prying it open with a screwdriver. Inside everything was ok, a little rusty, but some wd-40 solved that. Now I just have to pull on the outer corner and it pops open.
Not "fixed" but its better than not being able to get to my precious gas tank.

 

If i remember correctly, you can get to the actual cable a little farther foward. Pull on that and it'll pop right open.