940 1994 difficulty removing airbox thermostat housing

[writer100]

I have a 1994 940 with 172,000 miles which I am currently trying to restore. I've read on this site and others the importance of having a correctly working airbox thermostat. I have tested mine and have determined that it has in fact failed in the "hot air" position and needs replacement. As others have detailed, the thermostat housing is secured in the airbox by two plastic tabs. On my car, the tabs are quite stiff, do not depress easily, and in addition, you need a separate set of hands to twist free the thermostat housing while the two tabs are depressed. From what I have read, these parts are also quite easy to break.

Can anybody who has done this tell me what their tools/method was in depressing the two tabs while removing the thermostat housing? Can this be done without an assistant? Thanks.