Removing a dent through the tire well?

[swankerme]

This Tercel I have also has a very large dent, maybe two feet tall and two feet wide. Basically the whole panel next to the door and above the back tire well is pushed inward, like one very big dent. It looks like an easy job to push out, but there is no way to get under this place in the Tercel.

Now, I was thinking of ways to get under it, and the easiest would seem to be through the tire well. This would mean putting a semi-large hole in the top left part of the tire well, so I could fit my hand in and push the dent out. Does anyone know if this would be safe, or if putting a hole in the well could damage anything important?

Of if you have other ideas for accessing this panel, that would be great too.

Matt

[haa21]

Somone once showed me how to use a plunger or suction cup to remove larger dents. It works great. Stick the plucnger to the car (you may have to wet the car) and pull! The dent pops right out!

[wedge]

You don't need to put a hole in the tire well. You can remove the plasic 'lining' inside the tire well, this should expose enough of the interior of the panel to get your hands on it. But it won't be as easy to simply 'push' as you think. You'll need to use a hammer. But you should wrap it in some kind of cloth to prevent making the damage worse, and start by hitting it gently and progressively harder until it's out.