How to unclick distributor cap clips?

[cox]

Curse these dark winter nights! There was a fault with my dizzy cap so I wanted to fit a replacement so that my girlfriend can take the car into work tomorrow, but the clips have kind of clipped back a couple of times while I was faffing around and now it is near impossible to get the clips hooked back onto the cap (the front I can just about manage, but the back one is proving really difficult since I can't get any leverage as it has moved further away from the cap). Any ideas how to 'unclick' them so I can get the cap back on?

I've had this problem once in the past, but I can't remember for the life of me how I got them back on, usually if they don't click then I can get them back on fine.

Thanks for any help,

Dave.

[Mr Blue]

some wd40 + a pair of pliers and jiggle the clips usualy does the trick

check if the cap is seated correctly too

[cox]

Thanks Mr Blue,

Got them soaking in Silver Hook Service Spray. Should the clips be pretty loose when you wiggle them? Mine are pretty solid - i am guessing rust etc doesn't help...

[cox]

Managed to sort the clips - a pretty good tip I found at: http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=435960

All you need is an old wire (I used an old telephone cable). Hook it under the end of the clip (not the bit where the screwdriver goes, but the bit that actually hooks over the cap) and just pull up hard and it unclicks the clip back into the normal position. Then you can just hold the cap down and clip them on by hand. Especially handy with regards to the back clip where there is hardly any room to move it around. Thought I would share the tip since I can't be the only one that has experienced this problem!

Cheers,

Dave.

[rubjonny]

easier way, use a flat bladed screwdriver. push it between the clip and the cap, twist. pop off easy

[russ-vdub]

Screwdriver FTW!