A guy on another site used wd40 and a hammer.
Ours wasn't completely seized, it would turn about 30 degrees and then jam, so wouldn't screw off.
It turned out the thing jamming the pump was also stopping the cap from screwing off. The pump was easy to remove (DISCONNECT MACHINE FROM ELECTRICAL MAINS, set machine on head, remove base plate, unscrew the pump mounting screw above the cap, remove the 2 hose spring clips and hoses, unclip the electrical connector, lift out pump)
Once I had the pump in my had, I could remove the piece of wire debris using snub nose pliers, pulling it out either the pumps inlet or outlet. The cap was now free to unscrew.
Salzar
March 2010