this is the vacuum element for the fuel door and I have 2 questions:

1) how do I remove the thing ( I have tried to press a piece of plastic that is located where text No1 is and to pull entire thing out but it's stuck. also 2 mecanics tried to remove the element without success).

2) since It was leaking air I took the hoses from 3 and 4 and joined them (figure No2) The new version of the element has only one hose conector, not 2 like the old one (conectors are marked with 3 and 4 on the pic)
When I get the new element I guess I need some kind of adapter?

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1988 mercedes 190e 2.3 AT 160k miles