Fuel Filter Help!
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Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 94
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Vehicle: 1998 Tiburon
Ok guys...So I've been getting really crappy gas milage lately so I decided to change my plugs and fuel filter today. I got the the plugs done no problem but I think I may have taken on something I shouldnt have with this fuel filter. The screw on the top busted off when I was unscrewing....but thats not my major problem. I can't get the bottom undone....Im not quite sure how its held onto the bottom of the filter , does the filter unscrew or is that a bolt under there I need to loosen?if someone could explain plzzzzz.
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the bottom of the filter i believe is held by a 14mm bolt.. you also have to get another open ended wrench to hold the filter which is 19mm.. so what you have to do hold the filter with a 19mm wrench and turn with the 14mm on the bolt next to the 19mm..
i'm pretty sure those are the correct sizes.. someone correct me if i'm wrong..
i'm pretty sure those are the correct sizes.. someone correct me if i'm wrong..
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9,172
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Vehicle: 2001/Hyundai/Tiburon
flat out, its a b****. some say they did it easily with a flared wrench(3/4 of a wrench) but i personally had to fight with it for hours an a couple vise grips. the nut sizes were off from metric and standard just enough to cause problems.
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Joined: May 2001
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From: San Antonio, TEXAS!!!
Vehicle: 01 Tiburon Turbo, 99 Tiburon F2E, 2013 Avalon XLE Touring
Remove the entire fuel line and replace it with a 10an steel braided hose with a fuel cell, external pump, and inline filter in the trunk. dunno.gif
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Joined: May 2001
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Repost from FXtreme (SpeedRacer, 9/29/2000):
And that's it, kids- from one of the original gurus. Also, a quote later in that same post from elantra-tech,
Now you know...HTH fing02.gif
BTW, I didn't bother spell-checking this post, so please forgive any typo's.
QUOTE
Topic: Changing the fuel filter...ancient Korean secrets inside...
Yup, I did it. After digging up a million very discouraging posts about this, I said to myself "What would they know, they're just highly educated mechanically inclined geniuses". So I did it. And to be honest with you, it really ain't all that bad AT ALL. No offense to those who thought it was hell in a filter. Also, as CHris H said, it's not necessary to rip up your back seat and mess with the fuel pump. Anyways, here's my step-by-step guide. Well, the steps I remember anyway. smile.gif
Tools needed:
Flat-head screwdriver
10mm socket
Small/medium socket extension
14mm open-end wrench
22mm open-end wrench (or inch equivalent)
Catch-the-gas rag
New fuel filter (yes it has to be new smile.gif )
2-3 beers of your choice (tonight it was Bud Ice for me)
First off, remove your air box. Remove the MAFS section of the intake and move it out of the way (you don't have to disconnect the sensor). Now you have more room to play. You can now easily see the filter bracket. Below the P/S fluid container, to the right. It is easiest identified by the red bolt.
Using your 10mm socket, remove that bolt and have your rag ready. When you are done unscrewing that bolt, a couple tablespoons of gas will come out. Before you scream, remember this is normal. Oh while we are on the subject, please no smoking while changing the fuel filter. So move the upper fuel line connected to the filter out of the way. Now here's the ancient Korean secret...see those two shiny brass bolts holding the filter bracket to the strut tower? Use your 10mm socket and extensions to get those bad boys off. They are very untight and easy to get out. Now the whole bracket is loose and held only on to the filter itself.
Now here's the really fun part that Chris, bry and elantra-tech still have nightmares about. The bolt on the bottom of the filter. You can't see it, since you'll be working from above the filter. And no you can't reach it from underneath. Nice try though buddy. Reach under and feel your way around the bottom of the filter. Get to know it. Become one with the bolt on the bottom of the filter. Anyways...take your 22mm wrench and put it on the hex on the bottom of the fuel filter (look at your new one and you'll see what I mean). Have it angled to the left (you should be staring at the front of your car). Then, put the 14mm around the bolt attached to the fuel line under that. Have this one angled to the right. So now you should have what looks like a fuel filter with legs spread like a $2 whore. The whole point of this Mr. Wizard experiment is to turn the 14mm wrench CLOCKWISE. TOWARDS THE LEFT. TO THE OPPOSITE OF THE RIGHT. Basically squeeze the two wrenches together, and yes it is a b****. Once it pops loose, you can turn it by hand a couple turns, and so on. You'll see what I mean. About 1/2 cup of gas is going to spill out. Use a rag to catch it. Or if you're a really cheap bastard, you can also rig up an intricate funnel system into one of the empty beer bottles, so you can save the gas to be put back into your gas tank. Once the fuel line is completely disconnected, you'll find out why you took those two bracket bolts off. You can now boogy-woogy the fuel filter (and bracket) out. There is one more little 10mm bolt holding the bracket together. Remove that, and you should be able to get the filter out. Put the bracket the same way on the new filter.
Now the hard part is over. Take a breather, have another beer, and now is a good time to have a smoke break (but please wash your hands first smile.gif ). The installation is the exact same as above, just backwards. Remeber when retightening the bottom fuel line to do it TIGHT, like it was. Bolt the bracket back on the strut tower, and reattach the top fuel line. That's it. You're done. Put your air box back on and reassemble everything.
Go start the car (it might not turn over real fast) and get back out and chill for a minute and check for leaks. If all is well, immediately call all your friends and family and brag that you just changed your fuel filter. Also post here about how easy it was ans how cool I am for writing all this stuff. wink1.gif
Good luck, may the force be with you...
Yup, I did it. After digging up a million very discouraging posts about this, I said to myself "What would they know, they're just highly educated mechanically inclined geniuses". So I did it. And to be honest with you, it really ain't all that bad AT ALL. No offense to those who thought it was hell in a filter. Also, as CHris H said, it's not necessary to rip up your back seat and mess with the fuel pump. Anyways, here's my step-by-step guide. Well, the steps I remember anyway. smile.gif
Tools needed:
Flat-head screwdriver
10mm socket
Small/medium socket extension
14mm open-end wrench
22mm open-end wrench (or inch equivalent)
Catch-the-gas rag
New fuel filter (yes it has to be new smile.gif )
2-3 beers of your choice (tonight it was Bud Ice for me)
First off, remove your air box. Remove the MAFS section of the intake and move it out of the way (you don't have to disconnect the sensor). Now you have more room to play. You can now easily see the filter bracket. Below the P/S fluid container, to the right. It is easiest identified by the red bolt.
Using your 10mm socket, remove that bolt and have your rag ready. When you are done unscrewing that bolt, a couple tablespoons of gas will come out. Before you scream, remember this is normal. Oh while we are on the subject, please no smoking while changing the fuel filter. So move the upper fuel line connected to the filter out of the way. Now here's the ancient Korean secret...see those two shiny brass bolts holding the filter bracket to the strut tower? Use your 10mm socket and extensions to get those bad boys off. They are very untight and easy to get out. Now the whole bracket is loose and held only on to the filter itself.
Now here's the really fun part that Chris, bry and elantra-tech still have nightmares about. The bolt on the bottom of the filter. You can't see it, since you'll be working from above the filter. And no you can't reach it from underneath. Nice try though buddy. Reach under and feel your way around the bottom of the filter. Get to know it. Become one with the bolt on the bottom of the filter. Anyways...take your 22mm wrench and put it on the hex on the bottom of the fuel filter (look at your new one and you'll see what I mean). Have it angled to the left (you should be staring at the front of your car). Then, put the 14mm around the bolt attached to the fuel line under that. Have this one angled to the right. So now you should have what looks like a fuel filter with legs spread like a $2 whore. The whole point of this Mr. Wizard experiment is to turn the 14mm wrench CLOCKWISE. TOWARDS THE LEFT. TO THE OPPOSITE OF THE RIGHT. Basically squeeze the two wrenches together, and yes it is a b****. Once it pops loose, you can turn it by hand a couple turns, and so on. You'll see what I mean. About 1/2 cup of gas is going to spill out. Use a rag to catch it. Or if you're a really cheap bastard, you can also rig up an intricate funnel system into one of the empty beer bottles, so you can save the gas to be put back into your gas tank. Once the fuel line is completely disconnected, you'll find out why you took those two bracket bolts off. You can now boogy-woogy the fuel filter (and bracket) out. There is one more little 10mm bolt holding the bracket together. Remove that, and you should be able to get the filter out. Put the bracket the same way on the new filter.
Now the hard part is over. Take a breather, have another beer, and now is a good time to have a smoke break (but please wash your hands first smile.gif ). The installation is the exact same as above, just backwards. Remeber when retightening the bottom fuel line to do it TIGHT, like it was. Bolt the bracket back on the strut tower, and reattach the top fuel line. That's it. You're done. Put your air box back on and reassemble everything.
Go start the car (it might not turn over real fast) and get back out and chill for a minute and check for leaks. If all is well, immediately call all your friends and family and brag that you just changed your fuel filter. Also post here about how easy it was ans how cool I am for writing all this stuff. wink1.gif
Good luck, may the force be with you...
And that's it, kids- from one of the original gurus. Also, a quote later in that same post from elantra-tech,
QUOTE
Also you might want to use a 14mm line wrench to be safe that way you will not round it off and hurt yourself if it is really tight.
Now you know...HTH fing02.gif
BTW, I didn't bother spell-checking this post, so please forgive any typo's.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,244
Likes: 0
From: Ashland, KY
Vehicle: 2001/Hyundai/Tiburon
you actually can get to the bottom of the fuel filter though. otherwise thats a good diy.
the way i finally got it done was pull off the drivers side tire and inner fender well and it's right there. makes it much much much easier to accomplish this task.
the way i finally got it done was pull off the drivers side tire and inner fender well and it's right there. makes it much much much easier to accomplish this task.
