The pump itself is easy to remove/install, but not inexpensive.
One 2 pin connector, remove one torx bolt, undo the rubber hose and it's in your hand.
I seriously doubt the RCM swap caused a pump failure.
Just likely, as tighed1 said, a dirty/burnt air pump relay on the RCM he sent you.

 

Check the ground wire of the pump, you can see it on the front of the pump. I think something on it is green.

 

Any pics......?

 

Here ya go :

 

OK, so it isn't green, it's brown.

 

trumped again by 180, ( his picture is better )
but I ain't no quitter - I'll keep trying ........

 

Thanks guys, I'll check all the connections.

 

I have saved thousands of pictures, one day the Smithsonian will come calling.

 

I have saved thousands of pictures, one day the Smithsonian will come calling.
FP if you do not have to worry about a smog test then you can get rid of the troublesome pump. I guess that not coming from the boonies you do have a smog test though.

 

Yes, we have emissions test on a yearly basis. Is Air Pump the official name for this part? I was going to do a search for the part.

 

57 pages of them on carpart.com, starting at $25
( I looked it up for a 2003 'Mercedes SLK' - air pump )

 

We have one every two years, costs less than forty devalued bucks. Cheap, but a hassle we could do without. Crossfire should be OK, but the 300 has a engine light on due to an intake sensor problem. Test is in a month and I have no ambition to go out into the cold and fix it.

I think you should have left the RCM alone and you would not have these problems, maybe it will teach you and us a lesson.
Moral coming - fix problems not make them.

 

Well, hindsight is always 20/20. You're are right. I was trying to be proactive regarding the RCM.

 

I have done the same before too many times.
Once I thought I had a noisy alternator bearing and figured that if I took it apart I could oil the bearings. So I took it apart found the bearings were perfect and then I found it needed a special tool to put it all together again. I ended up with a new alternator that I really did not need.
The water pump failed decisively a week or so later.

 

Well, our friend Rudy came to the rescue. He has a pump for me.

 

YOU raided Rudy's spare parts bin......lol. Don't be taking any of my parts out of there..... I guess I should go out this weekend and pull both RCM's and do some soldering. It's suppose to snow again...go figure. It will give me something to do. Now the sticky key thing, I guess I am not seeing it. Both cars seem to be fine. Does this just happen over night or is there some warning?

 

I hope I don't find out before you do Doc!
No idea why I don't just do it and get it over with!

 

Man I feel better knowing I'm not the only "regular" putting this off that knows better..

 

To my knowledge there's no warning. It's on my list to do.

 

My ignition failed without warning, but I had the car only a month at the time...
I fixed mine in 2010, 50,000 miles later, no trouble with the ignition.