A'ternoon gents. I'm about to change my fuel filter on the bug, dependent on your replies of course. I am hoping it is a 5 min job, undo old one, catch any fuel left under pressure in the pipes (how much should I expect?), connect new one and job done.

Am I right in this wild assumption? Any hints and tips to smooth the way?

 

remove the fuel filler cap to vent any tank pressure, using a brakepipe clamp, clamp the supply line to the fuel filter, remove fuel pump fuse, start the car until it stops that will rid the fuel lines of any pressure, swap the filter and put it back together.

 

Aaaah, my first hurdle. A brakeline clamp!! Can it be achieved without purging the fuel lines? Ie. allow the extra fuel to be poured into a jar?

I know, a bit Heath-Robinson!!

 

yes just pop the fuel pump fuse out and run the engine on idle until it stops or starts to stutter, may take a little longer but it will work

 

That'll do for me!! Keep the fuel cap off as well, you say?

 

yes just stops any pressure build up in the tank which might possibly force fuel back up the return

 

Well removed the fuse for the fuel pump and nowt happens apart from the rev counter stops working! How long should the fuel in the pipes take to use up?

 

fuse 11 behind the coin tray which is marked as airbag feeds the fuel pump or the 30 amp fuse in the enginebay fuse board. it will run for a small while then it will run out

 

My bloody manual is wrong!! Many thanks for the info, I fxxked it off for today, other things on but I'll feed back on how I got on tomorrow. Or my Mrs will give you the update from the burns unit!!

 

No clamp....mole grips?

 

Believe it or not, no!! If nothing else, this thread has shown me I need a few more bits and pieces!! (makes it look like I own a minimal amount of tools. Not true, I just own the wrong ones!!)

 

You need to treat yourself

 

Scouring the 'bay as we speak. 3 x pipe clamps at £10 cant be bad!! Will be useful when I have to take my caliper off to free it up a bit as well.

 

just take tank cap off to release pressure and undo the 2 philips clamps on the 2 pipes on the filter and pull them off with a rag covering the ends.30 second job.did full service on mine last sat inc fuel filter.

 

Cheers Janner. Still going to buy the clamps!! How much fuel is expelled from the pipes when you take them off?

 

Very little, I didn't remove any fuses or even open the fuel cap and would guess the fuel from both pipes wouldn't even fill a very small cup. I would recommend doing it after leaving the car to stand overnight

 

Happy days, Im not going to end up dousing myself like a Buddhist Monk protesting!

 

 

On your car(same as mine)

Remove pass side kick plate below glove box. Disconnect fuel pump relay(this is the round unit- most frontward) There are two relay visible in that area.

Run engine until it dies. Crank twice more = no fuel pressure. Turn engine off.

Pull hoses,put rag underneath them,there will be minimal fuel in there. Replace. 15 min job tops. Unless you are slow.

Oh yeah, some times the hoses stick to the pipe. Rotate the rubber pipes 180 degrees then pull off. Or use a set of hose picks.

Replace relay plug. Turn ignition to on and wait for pump to prime. Do this twice. Crank engine. It takes a while to fire back up.

Safety

Do it when the car is cold.
Remove battery terminal.
Get some fuel resistant gloves. Petrol goes right through skin into blood. Not good.

 

Thanks for the info, I dont have room for the petrol in my blood at the mo, its topped up with alcohol!

 

Does it hell. Petrol in small amounts will evaporate before it could be absorbed through your skin.

Have you got it swapped yet, Myles?

 

Works for me every time

Sounds like it's being done by the Health and Safety at Work manual, over-the-top in every way and complete overkill. Just remember to use an ashtray when playing with the fuel system - *** ash in the lines is a blow

 

I had a tab in my mouth when I swapped my fuel pump.

 

I quit years ago, but in the good ol' days I used to tune up carbs with a tab in my gob

 

Before all the crazies started taking all this crap from the HSE as gospel.

 

In the days when green was just a colour, cars dudn't have cats and 5-star was a fuel and not a sh!te band

 

In the age of Aquarius.

 

Granted I do not speak Cellphonese, so I'm not that young.

But bugger I'm not as old as you guys.

 

Cellphonese, that's a great one!

 

Well, I did it and I'm still alive. The pipes were a little tight when the clips were loosened off and every time I moved the second pipe (the out pipe) the first pipe p1ssed a little more fuel out! That filter holds a whole lotta fuel!

Error codes cleared and waiting to see if the P0172 returns!