slfalco

Just thought I would share my experience with what I thought was a trivial process to replace the fuel filter. 99 SE, with ABS... Of course the hoses would not budge off either the top or bottom of the old filter... After much cursing, I found that it was easiest to remove the top hose not at the filter, but at it's other end at the connection near the engine. To deal with the bottom hose, I pulled the driver's side wheel off, and was able to fish out the filter into the wheel well area where I could get access to it. It was then possible (but still difficult) to remove the hoses. There is simply no clearance to do anything with the filter while it is inside the engine compartment. I think I see now why my Ford pickup has the filter under the cab inside the frame rail, with special quick-connect fittings that require a simple tool to release. Nissan could do better....

BRIGBOY

True.

Any word on the type of fittings ford used and stuff - maybe we could use em?

95maxmadman

I actually had a harder time getting the fuel filter out of my
brother's T-Bird than I did with my Max. That tool ain't that great.

PB blaster and pull.

Sprint

iTrader: (10)

pull the wheel off

if you had a Cold Air Intake and No ABS it would have taken you 10 mins..

the best thing to do would have been to move hte stock air box

FLO_BOY

talk about grief!!!

I'm assuming that you removed the fuel pump fuse and ran the car
until it conked out to remove the pressure? I also had trouble
replacing my fuel filter, but, I would have FREAKED if I had to
remove the wheel!

FLO_BOY

95maxmadman

I don't get how pulling the wheel helped.
I just reached up through the works...

slfalco

I just wanted to get clear access to the filter and hose connections to it, so I could use some real brute force to get the hoses off. I just found it easier to have the filter kind of hanging out in the space inside the wheel well (with the wheel off and the top hose disconnected near the engine). I could then get my hands and pliers on it much easier that way. I was afraid of slipping while the filter was inside the engine compartment and damaging something else, like an electrical connector or brake line. Believe me it took a LOT of force to get the hoses off that filter. To each his own I guess, but the 5 mins it took to jack up the car and pull the wheel made my situation MUCH easier...

95maxmadman

I got ya.

Another good way to go is get a friend who's as strong as
you to go above and you pull from below. YOINK!!!

Geophrum

did 2 fuel filters one with ABS and one without and the easieast thing to do is pull the air intake of and use a small flat head screwdriver and slowly pry the tubes off with your arms fished in there...

i took my time and with a few scratches on the arms it wasnt that hard. and i am not a small guy with small arms!!! took me about 10 minutes each to get them off

FLO_BOY

weren't you worried about sparks and igniting everything?

FLO_BOY

Geophrum

there was nothing really there to ignite and it wasn't like i was using a torch with my armes fished down in there there is nit much down there.. i would be more worried about pulling those hoses and possibly terring a hole or having the gas fly every were when yanked off

ORBRIT

You're supposed to remove the fuse for the fuel pump and then after cranking the engine til there's no more fuel, disconnect the battery.

At that point there is minimal risk of a spark and even if there was a spark, no fuel pressure.

FLO_BOY

I know...see my post up above...


there's still a risk...the fuel filter is still full of fuel (holy
alliteration!)

FLO_BOY

ORBRIT

Well i guess it's a case of take the risk or pay someone else to do it!

95maxmadman

It's only fire.

MaxRocZ

iTrader: (1)

haha...it's only fire!

FLO: There would be no risk of fire, I promise you this. It's just a little messy, but unless you're lighting up a cigarette while you're doing it, you're safe.

pjalst

I once saw a write up that said, put new hoses on the new filter before you install it. This way you can just cut the old hoses off and not deal with having to yank and pull at it.

BRIGBOY

I did the whole thing with a ciggarette hangin out of my mouth, and I was finished before I had to ash it

Put a little vaz on there after you do it the first time and the next time will be a breeze.