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Fuel filter

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Old Apr 10, 2004 | 11:03 PM
  #1  
FordMan190's Avatar
FordMan190
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Fuel filter

He everyone,
I have a 1998 Ranger 4x4 extended cab with four wheel drive. I can't believe I am having this problem seeing as I'm going to school to be an auto tech but I'm having trouble changing my fuel filter. On every other Ford I have worked on there were two plastic clips that held the lines onto the filter, My truck has these steel clips that lock onto the line and then butt up against the filter flare. My question is how do those lines dis-connect from the filter? I have the clips off but the lines won't release from the filter.
Thanks for the help,
-Phil
 
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Old Apr 10, 2004 | 11:38 PM
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rangerred2.5l
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your fuel filter problem

after you take the to clips off . you need a quick dis connect tool
napa part no. 730-4908 size is for the 1/4'' to 3/8 '' fuel line.
it slide into the filter releasing the hidden locks.
 
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Old Apr 11, 2004 | 08:46 AM
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Rockledge's Avatar
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Don't feel bad. The fuel filter on these later 90's Rangers are a PITA.

This link might help, it's from the Tehnical Information Sticky Thread that Ken00 put together (your '98 should be the same as the '99). My bet is that the tool mentioned in the thread is the same one that rangerred is talking about.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...hreadid=204571
 
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Old Apr 11, 2004 | 10:03 AM
  #4  
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PSKSAM2
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From: Randolph, NJ
These lines should be called "quick connect". The joker who called them "quick disconnect" should be beaten with a sack of doorknobs. Getting them back on is a snap, just push them together. Even with the tool, it usually takes me half an hour of figeting with it to get them to pull off.

-Jim
 
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Old Apr 12, 2004 | 05:35 AM
  #5  
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DANGERRANGERMAN
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I fought getting these things off a couple times and finnally figured out the easy way. It works better after installing the quick disconnect tool, if you put pressure on the tool away from the fuel filter and the fuel line towards the fuel filter. The key is pushing the fuel line towards the fuel filter. Then after the tool is fully inserted, pull the fuel line the other way.

Just make sure you've release the fuel pressure, and have youre face well away from the filter, gas in the eyes is never fun.
 

Last edited by DANGERRANGERMAN; Apr 12, 2004 at 05:37 AM. Reason: Had some direction problems
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Old May 8, 2004 | 02:16 PM
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I have a 2002 Ranger with 3.0L and the "new" style fuel filter plastic line connections. They are black with orange clips inside. Any one that can tell me the correct method of changing this filter? Ford dealer says that I need a special tool but no one has it. Clearance between filter and coupling is too small for all the normal release tools I have seen. Any one have a clue where I can get this tool or do the job w/o it??
 
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Old May 8, 2004 | 03:41 PM
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Fuel Filter

I have an 01 with pretty much the same set up. I don't care for the system Ford uses. When I changed my filter, I cut the lines back about 6" an installed rubber fuel line to the filter, making the connections with hose clamps. You are not supposed to use that kind of line on our fuel systems, but I haven't had any problems. It's kind of a midnight operation, but it in my opinion it's a better set up and it works.

Hammerlane
 
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Old May 9, 2004 | 07:09 AM
  #8  
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I did the same thing hammerlane, also realizing that it is probably not the correct material to handle the fuel pressure but when it was about 20 degrees and windy out this winter I just wanted the truck to run again. Very poor design, infact anytime any car manufacturer purposly goes out of their way to make things difficult to work on yourself leave me mad and questioning why.
 
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Old Aug 13, 2005 | 04:45 PM
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Originally Posted by jamesemery728
I have a 2002 Ranger with 3.0L and the "new" style fuel filter plastic line connections. They are black with orange clips inside. Any one that can tell me the correct method of changing this filter? Ford dealer says that I need a special tool but no one has it. Clearance between filter and coupling is too small for all the normal release tools I have seen. Any one have a clue where I can get this tool or do the job w/o it??
I have a 2002 ranger with these same plastic clips. I was thinking about cutting the fuel lines, but would really like to do it "right", did you ever find out how to get the lines off??? Any help would be apprecieated.

hardasst@mhcc.edu
 
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Old Aug 13, 2005 | 04:52 PM
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Old Aug 13, 2005 | 08:43 PM
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Your 2002 should have either "push release" or "R-clip" connections.

R-clip, remove the shipping tab, spread the legs, push it into the fitting, seperate the fitting.

Push release, press the retainer clip in, seperate the fitting.
 
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Old Aug 14, 2005 | 04:48 PM
  #12  
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Those "R" clips sound awfully like the clips used on my old 86 SVO. I find it funny that after all this time it sounds like Ford has gone back to that style clip (if it is indeed the same thing) when they replaced it all those years ago with the supposedly superior garter type quick-disconnect.

In any case, you can use the same quick disconnect tool used with the garter spring fittings with those style clips if they are in fact the same thing I'm thinking of.
 
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Old Aug 15, 2005 | 08:52 AM
  #13  
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Originally Posted by jamesemery728
Clearance between filter and coupling is too small for all the normal release tools I have seen. Any one have a clue where I can get this tool or do the job w/o it??
Cut the filter, then disconnect with tool.
 
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Old Aug 15, 2005 | 10:08 AM
  #14  
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Talking

Thanks! Why didn't I think of that...duh
 
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Old Aug 16, 2005 | 02:33 PM
  #15  
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dwildmanj
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From: Stone Mountain, GA
I had the same problem with the first filter on my 97. After about half an hour fighting with it, a buddy who was watching me struggle said, "I'm not trying to be a smart-alek, but why don't you cut the filter off, and then take the connection apart?"

Sometimes it's nice to have a smart-alek for a friend.
 
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