I need to change my fuel filter in my 99 Maxima, have no idea last time it was changed!! Anyways, I figure I am going to end up with a torn up hand or blown up car? Anybody got any advice before I risk limb and life to get some more HP??

 

You know about pulling the fuel pump fuse and all that right? I found a short philips head (for getting at the clamps), and a flathead screwdriver and pliers (for working the hoses) useful. Also don't forget to have lots of paper towels or rags handy. It was also helpful to remove the intake to get more room in there (you may want to consider cleaning the TB while you have everything apart if you haven't done so already). Good luck...It's a PITA, but you just need to keep at it and you'll get that hose loose eventually.

 

definite PITA, itll take 40 minutes, most of which will take to get the bottom hose loose, twisting motion will work if you grip it with cloth around the hose and use pliers so youd ont damage the hose, take the filter out of its bracket thatll give you some working room, and yeah remove the intake, i cleand the throttlebody while i was at it

 

First take off the top hose, then the bottom (grip the filter and grip the hose with second hand and just twist and pull the filter) then it will take you like 10 minutes tops. Don't worry about damaging the hose too much neither, it's old and might rip anytime new one will run you less then $5 in auto parts store.

 

there's a how-to in the how-to section

 

it is a ***** to get the filter off the hoses. as said just take a scren driver and press it between the hose andthe filter and try to pry the hos eloose.

make sure you depresuaize the system!

just go to nissan and get a 300zx twin turbo fuel filter. it doe snot provide any peeformance benfits just last alot longer, so you do tno have ot change it as often. they are the same price as the maxima's

 

i changed my fuel filter out today. it took me about 1-1.5 hours because i was taking it slow (or could be because it was 5am ).

i had screws to loosen since there was hose clamps on the hoses for both the top AND the bottom portions of the fuel filter. fun fun fun. but i agree with the guys that posted before me... just take your time... it's a pain in the @$$ totally... and you will get some gas spillage, so wear rubber gloves or something. crank the ignition to drain as much fuel as you can... etc, etc, etc.

 

supposedly the normal fuel filter lasts 15k and the 300z lasts for 30k, right? just want to clarify.

oh... and the best tip for changing the fuel filter... make SURE that you do some back stretches... because your back is gonna hurt a bit after being hunched over to undo the bottom hose. massive pain in the @$$.

 

just use pliers and gently pry off the hoses. Ive done mine about 6 times (nitrous ans stuff) and it takes me 10 min. now.

 

just changed mine yesterday...took 15 minutes. . . take the fuse out and keep starting the car (it will keep stalling) . . . i cranked it about 10 times & the hoses came right off....

 

iv only done this one time and it took me about the same time....as long as you cracnk the ignition enough, it shouldnt be too hard.

 

I read somewhere that someone dropped the filter underneath the car to get at the screw and hose better. May take more work but less aggravation

 

Best thing to remember, have small hands. ha ha.
I think the Japs just laugh at us Americans with our "large" hands. I could hardly do this.
Definitely a pain to accomplish, but not expensive.

 

I tried dropping mine under the car for the bottom hose, but it's WAY too short to do that - so I don't know how anybody else did it (I do recall reading it too, but they didn't do it with my car, no way!).

You'll need a couple of screw drivers if one dosen't fit properly, and it's very tight quarters. Following the how-to in the sticky at the top of the 4th gen forums will help. The top hose is not too difficult, but the bottom one just required a lot of pulling. I had to grab the hose with my hand and then use only my thumb (you'll never fit both hands down there) against the filter trying to pull that hose off. It took me at least 15 minutes and finally the hose decided to give way.

It was extremely messy. Make sure that you have rags or paper towel and a mug.

I found at one point that the gas just kept on leaking so I figured there was some pressure issue. I opened my gas tank cap at the rear and it somehow stoppd the flow of gas from the front fuel line.

 

i changed mine this weekend. took alot of twist and pull. however, as i was putting it back, i wasn't able to push the top hose all the way down. i got it past the 'barb' but couldn't get it down to the flat part of the filter, where the hose was originally when i removed it. should i worry about it? i thought of just trying again after the long commute home tonight as it should be nice and toasty inside the hood.

 

Do yourself a big favor and get a pair of long-handled bent-nose pliers. It makes disconnecting the lower hose so much easier.


http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes

 

i used my hand for it & had no problems. . .

 

maybe i should just go the child labor route and employ a teen in my neighborhood to take the filter out. it's become a 'normal' thing for me to work on my car and there always seem to be about a 1/2 dozen teens watching me work anyways.

 

You didn't mention if you have ABS. If you do, trust me, just take it to the dealer. I think they charged me $15 labor, WELL worth it.

 

i have abs and i had no problems at all....i took the top hose off, slid the filter out, & took the bottom hose off...

 

Get those pliars.
I would think you need the hose all the way down like it was when you changed it.

 

I bought a special pair of pliers, from the Snap-On truck, made for removing fuel injection hose. it looks two body panel prys stuck together. when in place on the filter & hose, you squeeze the handles, one side presses against the filter & the other moves the hose off of the nipple. I love 'em. And if you think a 4th gen is hard to do, I thought of driving my old 2nd gen thru Nissan design hqtrs with a bomb on it!!!! I still have the imprint of the engine on my chest.

 

LOL! you worked on a HOT engine? :P

 

real men work on hot engines...puss!es wait till they're cold....























i kid, i kid

 

i know we're all nissan fans and all... but do you really wanna show off a permanent imprint of NISSAN on your chest to show off to your significant other?

 

I did mine in no time at all. Yea its hard to work in such a tight spot but like everyone said, the only hard part is that bottom hose.