I've been at it for over an hour... I can't get the side tab on the right out for the life of me. I can't get any of the top clips to fully separate from the tabs, either. Just stuck under the slots and I can't pull them out any farther.
When you say "force" was needed, how strong are you? I'm 1 step up from skin and bones. I managed to pull on the left side hard enough to get the side tab out (and a bottom one), but I also broke some thin plastic parts of the housing closer to the engine... I've been giving the right side like 80% and it won't come out. The Kies video makes it look so easy... Mine seems to have a much tighter fit. 50/50 on pulling until it comes out or breaks, or throwing in the towel today and trying to warm it up before the next attempt.
Maybe I need to push the left side back in and try working the top tabs evenly? Looks like the clips will only fit through the middle sections?
