How to unplug a molex flat cable connector [resolved]

[gevans]

I tested circuit boards in a company for 17 years, on the bench ,hundreds per day, and I have seen a lot of cable connector types, the most dreaded being from Molex, which act like they've been glued in.

I am repairing a Hameg HM1507-3 oscilloscope, and have encountered a Molex type connector which baffles me.
It is almost as if it is not intended to be unplugged, EVER.
After pulling the "snap in cap" off with pliers, I pressed each contact in with a screwdriver and finally got it out, but this surely cannot be the way to do it, and this one in the second photo has only 4 pins...







Any ideas anyone?

[free_electron]

you need to press down the top plastic piece. HARD
that opens the clips and then you can pull out the flatcable.

the flatcable has stiff wires. to insert : simply press it in, no need to press on the white piece

[gevans]

Thank you, it works!

[free_electron]

of course it works. you doubted me ? 

Agilent uses those too in their 34401 and lots of other machinery to go to the front panel.

[tpecar]

For anyone that might be looking for a replacement connector of this type - as noted by gevans, this type of connector was also used in Agilent 34401.

Based on its parts list, I've managed to determine it to be a Molex 52007 series connector, also called a "wire trap" connector. These were 2mm pitch, and came with the cap preinstalled - as noted, the cap isn't intended to be removed, but acts as a lever to push the spring contacts inside to release the (usually single core) ribbon cable.

The original series is obsolete, but Molex still seems to produce compatible 52151 series.
https://eu.mouser.com/c/connectors/headers-wire-housings/?q=wire%20trap

Also, some other eevblog post also referenced this type of connector
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/yamaha-dm1000-digital-mixer-sourcing-obsolete-molex-connector/

And there's also a 2.5mm pitch clone around, if anyone encounters them
https://m.morethanall.com/product/index/btype_id/2/type_id/47/id/1633