Just want to rant for a moment. It was getting time to replace the fuel filer again (80K). I had paid for this before - mostly cause I didn't have the spring tool (that is required for my 94 E-150 and 200 Mustang). So I (went by my local Lincoln dealer who wanted $200 :eek: :eek: :eek:

Ok never-mind tried my local mechanic $150 :eek: :eek:

Ok I bought the filter (motorcraft) $7.59 and a spring tool $11 and went about doing it myself.

1) t/off the air suspension
2) release pressure from fuel system
3) jack up, support and block tire
4) remove tire
5) remove inner fender liner
6) remove 1 bolt on hold down bracket
7) pull pin on each hose - catch gas in a cleaned out soda can with lid cut off and a coffee filter and poured in my gas can for my mower.
8) remove hoses from old filter - no tool needed
9) Reverse above

Took 30 minutes - only cause I took time to wipe the liner down and clean the inner fender well. What the #$#@ do they want over $120+ in labor for. They both said 2 hour min job. I know (having worked for a company that produced time guides) that price guides are based on average repair time for that model - no way this job could ever take two hours. Oh well, thanks for letting me vent and do not let this job intimidate you. Save yourself some bucks! Just be safe around gas and gas fumes.

Oh I could have taken the tool back, but no excuse now for me not doing my van or stang + you can never have enough tool!

Heck Ya! Good job.

Thanks! not too many jobs on these cars are as easy as this one was!

bah, i replaced my upper control arm and fuel filter this weekend the arm took like an hour and for me to get that upper hose off the filter took me like 4 hours, worst thing i ever did, ended up hacksawing the filter off and used a screw driver to push the 4 tabs back, worst easy thing ive ever had to do.

yep, one of the easiest jobs I ever did on my 98 was replacing the fuel filter. I wish everything else was that easy.

Gen I filters are tough, but the Gen II - easy as pie!