Hi all,
I have the dreaded air pump code. I have air coming out of the pump, vacuum in the lines going to the solenoids, solenoids working properly. What I DON'T have is exhaust coming out of the passenger side bottom half of the solenoid. It is plugged somewhere in there.
Now, my current problem. In my effort to remove the driver side bottom half of the solenoid I broke off the boss in the manifold. So I have to deal with that. I now know I need to get the passenger side off to attempt a clean out. Besides large volumes of PB Blaster and carefully trying to rotate it instead of prying up does anyone have any secrets? This has so far not worked.
This is a 2004 e320 with 160K miles so I am not so sure it will ever come out clean.
Ideas?
Any opinions on my plan to use a careful application of form-a-gasket to repair my broken boss? I can't be the only one who has done this. (I hope)

 

UPDATE: I removed the solenoid body without breaking it! The passage in the engine it totally blocked. I cleaned as much out as I could but am still getting no exhaust through it. So, what do I need to do to get at the passage to clear it? Is it part of a manifold or part of the block?
Is putting compressed air to the opening as bad an idea as I think it is?
Thanks.