ok, i'm changing my fuel filter, or attempting to, and i've done all my reading, here on this site, my haynes manual, got the new filter, i've jacked the truck up, found the filter.
my v-6 has 3 lines going into the filter, 2 from the rear, 1 exiting the front. 2 of them have the plastic C clips. and one line (one of the rear ones) has a sort of green plastic O ring or clip (its tough to see b/c its behind things) my haynes manual said i didnt need a line release tool so i dont have one but i clearly see i DO need one so i go back to the autoparts store.
the guy there says he breaks those white clips off and replaces them, but my new filter didnt come with any so he gives me 2 from another box. but he doesnt know about the green line. he doesnt have any line release tools, which boggles my mind, neither did the other auto/home goods store i went to.
so my question is, now what?
what is this green line? i didnt see any obvious way to remove it, maybe if i had a tool it would be more clear. nothing, except the parts guy, said i should break the other clips off but since i have a replacement i guess i could. but i am from the mindset of you shouldnt have to force or break anything.
i'm going to go to another parts place to see if they have a line removal tool.

 

Is this on your 2000 Ranger????

 

I'll check if you want, but If i remeber on my 05 4.0 the colors were different but they were all tooless C-Clips. Pinching this side (--> C) in released the line from the filter. I used needle nose pliers on the smaller clip becuase it was too hard to pinch with my hand.

 

yes, it is my 2000 ranger.

 

Dang, they must have completely changed the fuel filter configuration between 99 & 00, because my 99 only has two lines.

One from the tank into the filter & one out of the fuel filter, to the fuel rail, so I'm not going to be of any help on the disconnect part.

Kinda sounds like they added a return line to the input side of the filter, if it has two lines coming into it????

Anyway, before you open the fuel line, be sure to bleed fuel pressure off.

You can easily & safely do this by disconnecting or tripping the fuel pump inerita switch, in the passenger side foot well, just above the carpet line, or pulling the fuel pump under hood power relay, or fuse, to depower it, then crank the engine until it ceases trying to start.

I also loosen the gas cap in warm/hot conditions, so the tank doesn't build pressure, while I have the lines open. Probably not a problem this time of year, if your in cold country.

Wear safety glasses & have a catch pan, towell, or rag handy, as you'll likely have a little fuel spill with whats in the filter.

So don't do this inside a heated space or near a open flame furnace or water heater & keep smokers away.

Good luck with those sometimes pesky retainers.

 

yes, i had tripped the switch and all that, i just couldnt figure out that third line.
thanks.

 

Ford uses 2 types of locking for their fuel lines. 1-(hairpin) which uses a little plastic clip on the end of the female fuel line that you puch the fuel filter into the line and it clicks in and ues those are replaceable. 2-(duckbill) which you MUST use a special tool. the cheapest and easy to use tool I found to use is a set of round plastic clips that that clip around the fuel line or male end of the fuel filter and push it directly into the female end of the fuel line to release the duckbill prongs inside the female end and the hose can be removed. here is a link and you can see what they look like you only need the 2 small pices to remove your fuel line. if you have a pepboys or auto zone i know they will have a set. http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...fuel+line+tool

 

I know what your talking about, I have the same problem only I forget how each time.
It's like a hairclip only you have to find the ends and push down. It releases but comes out enough to where you can disconnect the filter.

 

I just replaced the fuel filter on my 2000 Ranger SC 3.0. The one that was bolted to the frame was a plastic canister; the replacement was a metal one in a clip frame. I had wondered why the dang thing was twenty-something bucks, but it looks like it will be cheaper to replace just the steel canister next time.

That third fuel line connector just snapped on and off for me. I got a box of clips at Murrays for the other two.