1995 Ford Explorer, cannot locate the fuel filter.Underneath it appears.Must I depressurize the system first? Is there a procedure for this?

Thank you for your help.

 

I have not done a 1995 Explorer in five+ years, so I have to go from my Rangers and Broncos 4.0/2.9.

On almost all small Ford trucks, the filter (and high volume fuel pump) is behind a metal plate that looks like part of the frame. Look on the drivers side frame, outside, near the rear. You should see the head of two or three bolts about 7/16. They should be obvious and different from the rivets. On the other side there should be a shield. Remove it, the filter is underneath.

Then there are ones stuck up near the gas tank, driver's side, that unclip by pulling two plastic clips out.

One some models, I have seen two. One metal cannister and another inside a black plastic tank, stuck inside the rear frame rail, on 2.9s mostly. It hink by 1995, that system was gone. You have to remove the tank, then unscrew the cap by holding the housing in a vise. You can never do it with it on the vehicle. Sometimes you open it up and there is no filter in there ...

I have done many filters. The easiest way is to just remove the fuel cap, remove the relay for the fuel pump, crank it, let it sit for a few minutes. On your Explorer there should be a fuel cut off switch on the passenger side under the rug you can use to cut off the fuel pump before you crank the engine.

Wear chemical safety glasses (I prefer a face shield) , take the line off the low pressure side first, keep a towel over the connector when pulling it apart. If you have to use a X type tool, get one from KD and make sure you push it in until you feel the click.

The cheap plastic ones will destroy the connection and unless you are good at it, a guy like me will have to rescue you for mucho dinero. Buy the quality tool first.

 

Thank you Reocarbo,

I believe I found the fuel pump/filter inside a pan on the rear frame.Have to remove the spare tire to get to it,but followed the lines and it makes sense.No shut of switch under the passenger floor or kick panel on this one.Too cold out today to tackle it,so soaked the spare tire nut with WD.Another day.Don't think it will solve my ck engine lite condition anyway.When cold,no lite appears.While driving it will come on and stay on until you shut the engine off and restart.Same thing happens.Though to systematicly replace all filters to see if anything changes.I have heard that some part houses will pull codes for you.Haven't done that yet.Could be O2 sensors perhaps but no mention of changing in the maintanence guide,ever.

Any experience with this?

Grateful for your experience and help.

 

You really should get the codes checked. Autozone does it for free. Actually, the only thing I use them for is their free services. I buy my parts at a real auto parts store.

 

Thank you Jared.

I'm on it.Thank you for your wise advice and for backing such a terrific website.Everyone here really knows their stuff alright.These new systems are entirely different animals to this one time MB grease monkey.
DFTE sensor probably,but will have Autozone confirm it.

Gratefully,

JG