Help - Fuel Tank Removal - Vent Line!

[RV3maker]

History:
I have a 1999 LE with a 2.2L engine. It sat for 4 years with a blown motor. I replaced the engine and could not get the car started. put in new gas - no joy. After some trouble shooting found the pump was toast. Replaced the entire pump assembly with a used unit and started right up and ran fine. When the pump was out the tank looked okay. Car had to sit for 2 weeks while I waited on title paperwork and went to start it, same issue. Took the fuel pump out and the strainer was full of crap and had mud on it. Long story short, bought a new pump and strainer and dropping the tank to thoroughly rinse it out prior to installing the new pump.

I have the tank dropped with the exception of the fuel tank line. For the life of me I CANNOT get the vent line connectors apart. They have a funky connector that is hard to get off. I have tried prying it off with a screw driver but I am afraid of breaking it.

Whats the secret to taking this connector off the tank? I could remove the 90 degree connector on the vapor cannister, but it is harder to access and is the same type connector.

Any help or pictures would be great! Thanks!

[BamZipPow]

Previous thread using search...

Does it look like the one in that thread?

[mail2_jb]

IMHO, you will need to drop the canister along with the tank to remove that F%$#% connector. You can try inserting two VERY small screw drivers into the red mark part and then pry open (like making a X with the screw driver) at the same time pull out the vent line. Very very hard to do when you are under the car and the tank is almost hanging. I spent a good 6 hours to remove that sucker. (event went to a dealer, autozone and a mechanic to figure this out)