Fuel Filter Snafu ~~~what now?

Green Machine

Green Machine

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i was removing my resonator and drilling out my air filter box and figured i might as well do the fuel filter while i was that close. i noticed that my inner plastic fender liner was 1 piece and i had to unscrew many screws from the bumper to get it partially loose. everyone said it was 2 piece...not mine..

the bottom fuel line came right off the Autolite filter and there were some orange o-rings and a plastic washer in there too, but the top line didnt come off.
i guess i needed a special tool but i didnt have one so i ended up breaking the the 4 prong metal clip inside the coupling. it broke and fell out. :mad: :mad: :mad:

now what do i have to do? buy a new fuel line now>? can i replace the 4 prong clip i broke?
i tried to get the filter back on the bottom line but it seemed it wouldnt go back on all the way. im so mad i have to step back and find some shade.
any ideas or input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
 
you should research things before you bust stuff, now the top line has nothing to hold it on the filter so if you put it back on the old or new filter as soon as you turn the key the line is going to blow off the filter spewing gas everywhere. you said you think you need a special tool, good guess!! you do, but its too late now, now you are going to have to replace the fuel line from the fuel rail down to the filter. if you have a 93-96 i have those lines from the rail to the filter.
 
Yeah should've read up on that you needed the plastic fuel line tools to remove the filter...

You probably need to find someone with a line. Oh, and buy the fuel line tools too...
 
Air_Conditioning_Fuel_Line_Disconnect_Tool_Set_LISLE_37000.84223317_std.jpg


10 bucks at autozone
 
Man i feel pretty dumb.
i was going by these directions:
http://www.lincolnsonline.com/tech/00047.html
nowhere did it say i needed a special tool....you guys are right, i should of researched more.
Jamie, how much would you charge me for a used fuel line like the one i need?
will i need any special tools to remove the old one and install the new one?

about the bottom line at the filter....it looks like i might possibly need a new fitting there too. there were a few o rings inside with a plastic washer too. the new filter didnt come with any of those so im thinking someone replaced the filter before and it leaked and fixed it with o rings etc...i might be able to reuse it. it came apart pretty easy. thanks for the info guys....its appreciated.
 
Not recommended, but when I replaced mine I disconnected the bottom line, keeping the safety thing intact, bent the neck of the filter about 40 degrees and used a flathead to gently bend the 4 clips rotating the filter (trying to not break the clips). Comes right out, bend the clips back, clip the new one in. I did not know about that tool either.
 
when i replaced the filter on my 93 (which was in 2002) i did not have the plastic tool, and I used a screwdriver, not easy but can be done, you just can't get ham-handed

-that car has been gone for 2 years now, when i did my 96's filter, i bought the tool, somewhat easier, but in both cases I did not button it up until I started it and looked to see if it was leaking-kind of a strange place and weird attachment system IMO.
 
topher5150 said:
every fuel filter that i ever bought had the 2 white plastic retaining clips
Click to expand...

the retaining clips come with all filters, we are talking about the tool to remove the top line off the filter. but all filters come with replacement bottom line clips, the top line doesnt use the plastic fork clips, the reason they give you new ones for the bottom line is because its a 99% chance the one on the car will snap.
 
jamie97lsc said:
Air_Conditioning_Fuel_Line_Disconnect_Tool_Set_LISLE_37000.84223317_std.jpg


10 bucks at autozone
Click to expand...
Those are replacement clips not the special tool. Autozone will have the special tool you need is a ford fuel adapter tool. It's metal and it hasba scissor action so you can get under the fuel line on top of the fuel filter, to unhatch the clip.
 
AbrahamLincoln said:
Those are replacement clips not the special tool. Autozone will have the special tool you need is a ford fuel adapter tool. It's metal and it hasba scissor action so you can get under the fuel line on top of the fuel filter, to unhatch the clip.
Click to expand...

Those are the tool... the tool that autozone has is just a different style... lol...
 
replacement clips? how long have you been working on cars? the ones you are thinking of are just a different style, the ones i pictured above are the cheapies and they will disconect any fuel line or ac fitting on any mark VIII. trust me, i have two racks of those, and i have parted about 1000 mark VIII's since 99 and i have used the ones pictured every single car i parted.
 
jamie97lsc said:
replacement clips? how long have you been working on cars? the ones you are thinking of are just a different style, the ones i pictured above are the cheapies and they will disconect any fuel line or ac fitting on any mark VIII. trust me, i have two racks of those, and i have parted about 1000 mark VIII's since 99 and i have used the ones pictured every single car i parted.
Click to expand...

Some people are easily confused...
 
thats what he was refering to, but the ones i posted are the same thing, only plastic and cheap, and they work just as good!! hey charlie did you call me not long back? i lost your number do you want me to give you a ring, did you need something?
 
I went after mine today, and my removal tool wasn't working so I had to break-off the filter, and pry the clips of the fuel line clasp off with a small screwdriver.

stub.jpg


When bending the clips, bend them toward the center of the line, then pull the whole thing out with some pliers.

stubandclasp.jpg


stubandclasp2.jpg



stubandclasp3.jpg


Slide the clasp onto your new filter, and bend the clips back the way they were so it will stay on the filter.

Push the filter and clasp into the fuel line. Give it a small tug to make sure it will stay in. If it slips out, bend the tops of the clips out a bit more and try again.
ClaspFF.jpg
 
JMiles_T, that clip isnt supposed to come out.

the best advice i can give on how to remove the filter (with the tool) is to insert the tool a little then push the filter in as far as it will go then push the tool in the rest of the way. if the lip on the filter is holding tension on the clips it wont release and if it still gives you a hard time fill the hell out of it with pb blaster and try again, also twisting the filter helps too
 
I know it is not 'supposed' to come out, but the tool won't always work.

The job got done, and the clip still works.
 
the tool wont always work if you dont push the filter in like chicken mentioned, i have had to do that too, slip the tool in and shove the filter into the line harder by hand and walla!!! works like a charm.
 
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