how to disconnect fuel injector connectors?

Hey y'all... I'm working on replacing o-rings in my fuel pressure regulator (2001 Grand Am, 4-cyl 2.4L). Following the Haynes manual, but I can't get past disconnecting the fuel injector connectors. I can't seem to figure out how to disconnect them. I've pinched, pried, squeezed, twisted and hammered. Okay, I haven't hammered, but I've thought about it. Any suggestions? Is there something I can pinch to lift the tabs on top and bottom, or do I have to pry those up? Even when I've thought I had them pried up, the connectors still weren't pulling out. Is it a two-step thing? Pull one locking-type thing, then it pulls out? Help, please!

thanks,
- sundevilrock

The only ones I've ever seen (I even went outside to look on my car... darn it's cold in socks and a t-shirt) have a metal piece going between the two sides. If yours has one, just press it inward. Gloves may make this more comfortable, as sometimes you have to press fairly hard. If not, a picture would be helpful...

no metal or wire, unfortunately. I guess some pics would help:

http://members.cox.net/sol_son/conn1.jpg

http://members.cox.net/sol_son/conn2.jpg

any help is appreciated!

- sundevilrock

Your pic links are not working....

You do need to squeeze the side that has the catch conneted onto the injector.
Also if thier's a bunch of oily crude on them, it might be best to clean them up, debri can keep them from releasing.

I was looking, and I dont even have a pic of these connectors. :banghead:

aha... got it. My problem was that I was trying to disconnect in the wrong place. A greater portion of the connector comes away from the injector than I expected. But the coloring of the connectors sure makes it look like the front, smaller part comes away. You're right, xero, that there was another tab that I hadn't seen, down underneath and behind.

Sorry about the pic links - posted them in a hurry on my way out to work on the connectors themselves. I'll try to fix them and reference them in another post to explain my mistake for posterity. Thanks for your input, guys!

- sundevilrock