Fuel Filter Change
The AWD seems to not be getting enough juice so I decided one day to open the garage up (ventilation) and do all gas related stuff in one day. I also pulled and cleaned the fuel injectors which can be seen here. Please use your other forms of instructions also.
I cannot stress enough how DANGEROUS working with fuel is. Make sure you are in a well ventilated area. Please do not smoke, make sparks, use space heaters, bare light bulbs, so on.... I kept a Fire Extinguisher close by just in case. Also, check for leaks when finished installing. Cars have been known to be engulfed in flames within seconds.
Click here to see how bad a fuel fire can be
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Let's start be relieving the fuel system. This is IMPORTANT! Go into the hatch (AWD) area and find this plug. If you have a FWD, it is under the car by the fuel pump (look in your other form of instructions>> Chilton's Haynes, shop manual). Unplug the plug. This will disable the fuel pump. Okay, take off your gas cap and crank the car up. Wait until it shuts off by itself (should be only a few seconds). Then it is relieved. |
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Here is the filter. Fram part number G6553.
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I removed the battery and the box it sits in. Using a 14mm wrench, loosen the bottom nut. Curse as you try to reach it. I wrapped it well with old rags to absorb the leaking fuel. It will leak fuel too. You may want to use another wrench to hold the filter steady (19mm right above it). I did not need it. |
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Using a 19mm wrench and another on the bottom to steady
the filter, loosen the top banjo bolt.
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I used an old pill bottle to quickly stick the dripping
fuel line into. This catches the excess gas. The left arrow shows the
old crush washer.
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It is easier to go ahead and loosen the bracket bolt
(10mm socket) now.
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Remove the two bolts (12mm) holding the filter bracket to the firewall. Remove the filter from the car and the bracket. I noticed my filter was holding gas in it (clogged at bottom). |
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Place the new filter into the bracket. SNUG the bracket
bolt by hand (10mm). This way you can adjust it up or down to meet the
bottom fuel line once back on the car.
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Hand tighten the bottom nut. I added a little Teflon tape on the threads of the bolt first. I also lowered the filter to meet the line. You do not want to bend/break the fuel line. Put the two 12mm bolts in and finish tightening the bottom fuel line. |
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Place the two new crush washers on the banjo bolt (arrows point to them) and put it back on. Use the wrench (19mm) at the bottom to keep in from turning and tighten the top banjo bolt down. Wipe up or let excess fuel dry up before cranking the car. Plug the fuel pump connector back in, put gas cap on, start car and CHECK FOR LEAKS! |