I picked up 'the tool' to take off the fuel filter that is under the drivers door....I worked and worked on that filter and never could get it off...Next tool to use...hammer time...I beat the heck out of the filter, hoping to free up an clogs. charged up the batteries and got a spare key from my Sister....The Explore fired right up

Her son drove it for two weeks and then when my sister got in it...no start....It set for a couple of days and then her son fired it right up with his keys..."His keys...." Worked....Her keys, did not....

She had lost her keys and had to have it towed to a Dealer to 'reprogram' two new keys, with 'chips' in the keys....One key 'works'...one key does not...she will get a new key made.

So now 'we' know, it was her keys that would not let the Explorer start.

Thanks for all of the input. I was never able to get the fuel filter off, even with the little plastic 'tool'. I thought best to leave it alone, now that we know what the problem is.


Thanks again
Brother Les

 

Glad you figured it out. Sometimes, those filters can be a bugger. There are "fingers" inside the connector that must be released by the tool before it will disconnect. Here's what I've found:

(1) hold the connector/fuel line with one hand and push the tool into the connector with the other hand as far as it will go.

(2) once you have the tool in place, hold the tool and connector in place with one hand, and push the filter towards the connector with your other hand. You might hear a click as the tool lifts the "fingers".

(3) then, pull the filter in the opposite direction away from the connector, while still holding the tool/connector with your other hand. Might take some effort, depending on how long the old filter has been in place.

(4) be prepared for some fuel spill---wear safety glasses. I usually relieve the fuel pressure. Some models have a schrader valve on the fuel rail, where you can relieve the fuel pressure with a valve stem tool or small screwdriver. some folks disable the fuel pump circuit by removing the fuse, then cranking the vehicle to relieve the pressure. Anyway, helps to cut down on gas in the face, on your shirt, on the ground, etc.

(5) once you have the fuel line disconnected on one side of the filter, the procedure is the same for the other side.

(6) I usually slide a golf tee in the tube on one side of the filter when the fuel line is disconnected. This helps to keep residual fuel inside the filter as you take it off. Once you have the filter off, remove the golf tee, and stick it in your lawn mower gas tank to let the rest of the fuel drain out.

(7) to install the new filter, just slide the fuel lines back on until they click in place. Be sure to note the intended fuel flow direction, noted usually by an arrow on the new filter.

(8) patience is important here. These "new idea" connectors are not intuitive at first. After you do it a couple of times, it's easier.

Good luck.