So I'm following the directions to remove the engine in the D2 workshop manual (RAVE). I'm on step 22 (pg 183 of the PDF). It directs me to unhook a harness. I can't figure that dang thing out for the life of me. Its very hard to see since there is a canister on a bracket that wraps around the plug.

Anyone know how to unplug it? Do I pinch the top of it, or pry the top of the clip part away from the body of the plug? Something else? When it unplugs, which part stays stuck to the bracket (ie. do I pull the top part up or the bottom part down?)?

Getting stuck on stupid stuff like this makes everything take a lot longer.

 

Oh, btw, for those of you who don't have the RAVE readily available, here is the step in question:



Step 22 of the Engine Assembly Removal directions.

 

I'm not sure about the exact connector in question. Sometimes connectors get loaded up with sand and it makes them very hard to get apart. If it is full of dirt, sometimes tapping lightly on the side of it with a screwdriver handle will knock enough of it out to free it up.

 

Press the tab on the upper half of the connector while pulling down on the lower half of the connector. You may need to perhaps insert a flat-blade screwdriver into the small gap between the upper and lower halves and twist it while depressing the tab.

 

Looks like a bolt is holding half of connector securely in place. If not already removed remove it for easier access to tabs and visual of all sides.
......

 

If it's anything like the ones on the o2 sensors (and it likely is) the best way to do it is to dissassemble the rest of the truck until you can get both hands and a tool on it (just kidding). Those one require the whole unit to come off the metal body tab and then you can pull the two parts apart.
All seems dead easy if they're on a table right in front of you, but can be a right bastard when you've got your arm jammed up into the heart of the beast.
I remember having one with three screwdrivers precariously jammed in it...
Mostly takes a lot of patience and tiny but strong hands.
May I suggest training a spider monkey? You could rent it out to local lr groups.

 

A trained spider monkey would be useful to any mechanic. Although it could be an excellent source of income, there would be a lot on monkey management involved. Now, if only children had hands as strong as adults.

Seriously, though, stuff like this is where it would be advantageous to be a smaller person. Perhaps an opportunity for more women to join the mechanic's trade?

 

But did you get it disconnected?

 

Got it. Thanks for your input. I just decided to unhook the bracket. It made it much easier.

 

I found that I couldn't generate enough pressure with my fingers to disengage the clip... so I used a pair of 45 degree long handled pliers - squeezed the top clip- heard a distinct click and was able to pull them off easily after that. Same deal with the o2 sensor plugs.