Greetings to all that have pulled an engine before. I am doing my first engine swap on my S4 GXL and have run into a major snag. After doing the proper homework, I'm to the point where the emission harness is ready to be pulled through the firewall and engine/transmission hoisted out. But what is holding it in is the FEM01 and FEM02 connectors that attach the Emissions Harness to the Front Harness (under passenger side kick panel, the two big orange connectors). According to RotaryRocket88, this is all that's left holding the harness in place.

Is there some sort of trick to get them loose that I'm somehow missing? This is the only thing holding up progress on my 20b swap now, the rest is simple stuff that any responsible owner already knows how to do.

I've tried every sort of contortion, but my fingers keep slipping off the connector. Also, I've noticed that the vertically-oriented one appears to be loosely attached, but I still can't get it to budge. And with my back starting to ache from fighting it for half an hour straight while curled over the sill plate backwards and under the dashboard, it's time to ask for help. So I humbly beseech thee for wisdom and assistance with this matter.

The car has had zero wiring done to it, so it's entirely untouched, even to the point where the cold start assist system is entirely intact.

thanks,
Travis

 

flathead screwdriver?

 

If it's like an S5 then just grab the two and pull really hard, they are held where they are by one of those plastic clips (like door panels), or use a panel removal tool / screwdriver to get them loose. You should be able to get them down to where you can get to them a little better.

 

Push the plugs back into each other first to re seat everything. Then try to separate them.

 

Spay a little wd40 into the seams of the connectors. If i remember right the S4s you push down to pull out. Make sure the clip actually clears the tab other wise you are just pulling a locked connector.
If you can;t get a decent angle to grab it, you can undbolt the ecu. Thats what i had to do the first time.
good luck

 

I figured out the solution, push the tab in with my right hand while pulling the connector upward with my left. Thanks for the advice though