whats the trick to get out fuel filter on a 04 explorer.im not no retard when it comes to working on cars but this has me at a stand still.the line that comes out of the filter is whats giving me problems.i have try'd every ac/line tool there is,plastic and metal and i cant get the line off the filter. please give me some info.thanks Joey

 

some seem to be a real PITA. basically all work the same, push the tool into the coupling and make sure it is all the way in, then pull the coupling off while holding the tool in. sometimes it tricky due to the location of the filter. my 2002 is about impossible to get to up inside the frame rails and muffler.

 

You might try rotating the filter a few times too to loosen the seals. That's seemed to work for me in the past.

-Rod

 

i'll give it another shot,what do you think would work better,the metal tools or plastic ones?

 

I've tried both. I thought the metal would work better since they offered a bit of a lever arm, but ultimately I got it released with the plastic ones. I suspect that maybe the smaller, round plastic ones forced me to more evenly apply pressure. Just guessing.

-Rod

 

I had to grab my fuel line with channel locks and force the line and tool together and twist a little and then pull and twist it apart. I tried 3 separate times to get it out gave up the first 2 times and finally got it when I used the channel locks.

 

i wish i had seen this prior to replacing the fuel filter in my '04 explorer.
i had to cut the fuel filter outlet pipe at the filter, remove the filter and bracket so i could get a better view of the spring( inlet is a breeze) and attempt to use the plactic tool. i could hear the "click" of teh spring being released, but i could not get the stub out.
Now its on!

i wound up using a piece of 3/8' copper that i was able to increase the internal size slightly so i can release the spring and pull the stub out.

Needless to say, after spending 8 hours to replace a simple filter, i was victorious!

 

Just changed the filter on my daughters 04 last sunday. Heard and felt the plastic tool click but could not get the line off. Fought it for a hour then went and bought the anodized aluminon set that Harbor freight sells. Came right off. Looks like I burred the plastic tool somehow and that kept it from coming off.

 

I would have to agree with dudester. I also went down to harbor freight and bought the metal (Aluminum) tool after fooling around with the plastic one for about 2 hrs. I used the aluminum tool and it was off in about 10 minutes.

Eric

 

I've found on some of them if you can sort of push the line towards the filter as you put the tool in it helps release it too.

 

Agreed. That's what I ended up having to do on the fuel filter of my prior 2000 Mountaineer. I was about to give up and tried pushing the two together, then the tool slid in like butter and came apart with ease. I couldn't believe how easy it was when I pushed the end towards the filter body. I'm not sure if I got lucky at that point of if that's how it was supposed to work. I already had one side loose (after a fight) so I didn't get to try that trick out again. I haven't tackled the one on my 2004 Aviator yet.

-Rod

 

They are a HUGE pita. Don't know if i've ever had one of them come out without some sort of fight. Patience is the key!

 

I learned that trick after fighting one before. I think it give the tool a bit more room to slide between the line and filter to release it.