OK,
I got the switch out, by pressing the two "ears" that lock it into the metal collar on the floor. I'm gonna try to drill a small hole in it, flood it with oil and then tomorrow wash it out with brake clean. I know it's only a $15 part, but I like to fix stuff if I don't have to toss it. (later) I'm back. I took the solonoid apart with great difficulty. The two pieces sleeve into one another and there was just too much friction and not enough spring pressure to pop the switch to the open position. No dirt inside, but rather tight tolerances between the two parts. I wonder if these plastic parts might swell as they age making the part stick. I'd recommend that anyone with this similar problem just bit the bullet and pay the $15 bucks for a new switch. (think of how much fun passing will be with that new switch?)