5.0 fuel filter??

[stackz]

um, I feel sort of stupid asking this but how the hell do I get the fuel filter off my 98 mountaineer 5.0??

I have a universal a/c and fuel line tool that I use but it wont budge the fuel filter?? Its not those plastic slip-on ones...its the more expensive metal one that can do 4 sizes in one. I'm assuming the fuel filter clips are these kind...the kind with the circular metal spring inside that you need this tool for to separate them??

I've had trouble in the past with springs sticking and not releasing all the way but this doesnt seem to be the case for this?? are these connectors different??

 

[Turdle]

You are doing it right
try some penetrating oil, and every cuss word you can think of
try twisting, maybe even push together and pull.
You'll get it just before you give up

 

[stackz]

dangit, alright. figured it might have been some sort of revision that needed another special tool...guess it's just jammed on there good and hard. :fire:

 

[Turdle]

Sometimes dirt and sand get in there, between the spring and housing, preventing spring from expanding. Spray the crap out of it with wd-40 or solvent, with the red nozzle tube.
Be careful not to use anything that will damage the plastic

 

[stackz]

ok, went at it again yesterday....no luck again.

At least this time I was able to get my butt up under the car far enough to actually see what I was doing...

my ford a/c-fuel line disconnector is too big even on the smallest ring to get inside the clamps. :fire:

Its the one from autozone that has the four different sizes A,B,C,D with D as smallest and it wont fit. I went back to advance, autozone, pepboys, napa and none of them have any that are smaller????

what now??

on another note, I changed the plugs/wires yesterday and might I say, they definitely needed it!!!

the plugs I pulled out were so worn they gapped out at .090 They were the original plugs and wires from the factory and the truck has 162k on it lol...guess the previous owner never did maintainence...

 

[Turdle]

I know it doesn't sound right, but the plastic tool kit, I got mine from o'rielly, worked for me. It was less than 10.00 for a set. black holder with white tools
Good luck

 

[IAmTodd]

You need to push the line in as well as the release. I believe thats how it worked. It kicked my ass too, took it somewhere, $15 it was swapped out and I wasn't the one smelling like gas!

 

['97 V8]

i read on here that the system is pressurazid and you need to de-pressurize it. How do i go about doing this? Take the gas cap off?

 

[IAmTodd]

Pull the fuel pump relay. Start it up, let it run until it stalls. Try to start it again, shouldn't start. Its depressurized.

 

[stackz]

I usually just pop the inertia switch and then run it out.

I think I'm actually going to have to go and pay to have it swapped sigh.

I went everywhere again yesterday and STILL cant find a tool sized small enough :fire:

this is really getting irritating.

 

[Turdle]

You aren't the first person to feel this
I couldn't believe a fuel filter could screw with me like it does
Keep trying, you will get it
Can you get it to rotate?
do you have a small curved pick? maybe you can get it up in there and loosen the spring

 

[stackz]

yeah, it rotates in the couplers on both sides just fine. with where it's located, I'll just get more and more disgusted with it if I try to pick at the springs.

I can see it now. I'll get one spring out and wont be able to budge the other one only to have to put the one I got off, back on so I can drive the next day and then never be able to get it off again

I'm gonna cut up a plastic coke bottle this afternoon and then tape the strip I cut out in the size this thing is and try that.

I'm not gonna let this thing beat me until I start cussing at the wind.

 

[Turdle]

That plastic bottle piece is a good idea!!!
remember, you have to kind of push the fitting together while you slide it in, and then pull