Hi out there,

a few tenderfoot head removal questions:

1.
Is there a 'best practice' for disconnecting the injector plugs to get the harness out of the way? I can see that there are 3 strong clips attaching each. I really do not want to break or bend any of them because I am sure they are very important. I am having a hard time imagining being able to pry all three at the same time and I have not been able to wiggle the injector plug around enough to do one at a time. Does this require Mercedes special tool 10900100091001001001999234823498814009823401991 :;}
I would cry if I busted one of these injectors up.

2.
The black plastic that is above the manifold that attaches to the two pipes. Does all that black plastic come off? If so is there a smart way to remove that? I have a few of the bolts loosened around cylinders 1-2 but it looks like it gets tighter and tighter as I move towards the firewall. I just want to make sure that I have to remove this black plastic stuff.

3.
I am pretty sure that I have removed the 8 bolts that hold the timing chain cover on and I can see its outline pretty well. Looks like there is some original sealing stuff in the seams. Does this take some aggressive banging and/or prying on it to remove the cover? It is looking like it would but I am afraid of getting too rough with it. It is aluminimum right?

4. I cannot remove the fan. I know that I have in the past when I had to change the serpentine belt but all that I happens is the pulley starts slipping right before it feels like I am breaking the grip of the nut on there. I don't know how I did it before but any hints on holding that pulley in a safe way to remove the fan? Does it absolutely have to come off?

Thanks very much for all the fine help.

Jim Lee