I just changed the fuel filter out on my 96 sunfire 2.2L. I'm writing this to help others who need help with that black quick connect. It was my first attempt at changing this filter and dealing with the "quick connect" It took two days of messing with this thing. I've searched this forum and many others have said to cut the lines for this quick connect. But I found an easier way without cutting anything.
*relieve fuel pressure first. undo the gas cap, start the car, remove the fuel pump fuse from under the hood. let the car run for 5 minutes or so. the car will sputter. shut the car off, remove the negative terminal from the battery*
1. Use PB blaster on the quick connect black port and on the 16 mm fuel line bolt.
2. make sure you buy the autozone fuel filter line disconnect tool. It's silver, has A,B,C,D, marked for sizing. the line is a 3/8 size wrench
3. After you use a 16mm wrench on the 16 mm fuel line bolt with a backup wrench on the fuel filter so it does not twist the metal fuel line! very important!
4. You can try all day and night like I did to push the black quick connect toward the fuel filter and pulling back. Here's where I got stuck. What I did, I broke the black quick connect off. Yes!! You do not need that black quick connect! Use a flat head screw driver and break all of the black quick connect piece off.
5. Then place the 3/8 fuel line tool on the male end of the fuel filter that goes into the female end of the fuel line.
6. Push as hard as you can with the fuel line tool. You will see one of the metal retaining clips pop out. Then proceed to pop the other 4 metal retaining clips. You just removed the fuel filter.
7. Remove the quick connect metal retaining clip from the fuel line and discard. You do not need this anymore. Your new fuel filter should have a plastic quick connect tab on it. Mine is a purolater fuel filter.
8. Take the fuel filter male end, put a couple of drops of motor oil to ensure a good fit.
9. take the fuel filter with the plastic quick connect already attached and slide into the female end of the fuel line. You will hear a "click". The fuel filter is now attached
10. Secure the 16mm fuel line bolt with 16mm wrench and backup wrench on the fuel filter.
11. tighten gas cap, put fuel pump fuse back, put negative terminal battery back. turn the key in the "on" position for a few seconds, then take the key out to prime the fuel line. Do this a couple of times. After you do this, crank the engine. it may take up to 3-4 times for the car to start. Once the engine is running, check the fuel filter for any fuel leaks.
your fuel filter has been changed. This tutorial only applies to the black quick connect that are on the fuel filters for 95-00 models. If you have these model vehicles and your black quick connect is missing or broken. Break the rest of the black quick connect tabs off, then use the 3/8 fuel disconnect line tool to free the metal retaining clips.
Its simpler to pull the fuel pump relay and start the car to relieve the fuel pressure.
Tinkles
2003 Cavalier 1SV
Bagged and Blown
This seems way more complicated than it should....
"The Blue Bullet"
So, having never seen this type of quick connect before, I broke off the black plastic tabs as recommended in this post - probably a mistake, but its done. Anyone have any advice besides whats posted here and and in other posts about how to get the filter off after that? I've got the nutted end off, so its just hanging. I push in and no metal retaining clips pop out as suggested above. I'm trying to pry it out without damaging the line and thats not working either. I skipped the PB Blaster as the fittings were pretty clean, the nut came lose easily - don't know if PB Blaster is going to help at this point. If I can't get it, I'm going to put it back together as I need the car early am, but I'm half way there and would like to finish the job tonite.
Thanks!!!
i ended up using the quick disconnect tool after breaking off my black plastic piece. the new filter wouldn't have fit into it anyway.
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Rich Grayo Jr. wrote:i ended up using the quick disconnect tool after breaking off my black plastic piece. the new filter wouldn't have fit into it anyway.
So that tool still works after the black tabs are broken off? I've got that fitting pretty beat up now.
DO NOT break the black plastic ring off if you can avoid it !! When I squeezed with the tool mine broke. What A PITA
In the pictures the filter has been cut off with snippers (do not hacksaw...one spark & %$&!@&)
The first picture show roughly how it goes together. The second picture is the clip and the fitting from the filter and the third is just the fitting
The fitting goes around the filter end, and along with the filter goes into the cup on the hose fitting. The cup on the hose fitting has an internal lip which catches the four bayonet type clips on the preventing the filter from coming out of the hose fitting (cup). In theory when you compress the black plastic ring that part of the black ring which is inside the cup it puts pressure on all four clips so they are smaller and can get past the cup. You need to push the black ring away from the filter before pulling the filter out so the clips can clear the inside edge of the lip.
With the black ring gone it is impossible to push the four clips in.
By breaking off the filter you now have the room to get tools into the cup to move the clips. With dexterity and an extra set of hands you might be able to simultaneously get four very small screwdrivers in the cup, one on each of the clips. What I did was get out my set of dental tools and hook one behind or inside the folded edge of each of the four clips. It was still a PITA.
CAREFUL if you break the cup on the hose side, the hose must be replaced, which I suspect may involve dropping the tank
Rich T wrote:DO NOT break the black plastic ring off if you can avoid it !! When I squeezed with the tool mine broke.
I couldn't for the life of me get that filter apart with the black plastic on there. broke it off, used the disconnect tool, popped off within 10 seconds. the new filter has a small plastic barb on it that holds it in place, and works better than the factory black plastic bit.
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Rich Grayo Jr. wrote:Rich T wrote:DO NOT break the black plastic ring off if you can avoid it !! When I squeezed with the tool mine broke.
I couldn't for the life of me get that filter apart with the black plastic on there. broke it off, used the disconnect tool, popped off within 10 seconds. the new filter has a small plastic barb on it that holds it in place, and works better than the factory black plastic bit.
???? With me when the black ring broke there was no part of the black ring left on the filter. The only part left of the quick disconnect was was the metal clip which was completely inside the cup. What did you put pressure on with the tool?
That is way more complciated than it needs to be. You dont need to relieve fuel pressure and disconnect any battery cables. You will get a little bit of fuel on the ground, but it isnt any big deal.
I've changed hundreds of fuel filters, never once relieved any fuel pressure, waste of time.
- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new
i agree, this took my 5 minutes in the ace hardware parking lot once on my buddies OHV...seriously
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Old thread, forgive me. Having this same BS happen now. Stupid plastic clips that hold the filter to the nylon tubing broke the F off. Think I'd be better off snipping of the filter on it's end, grabbing some 3/8" "quick" disconnect tools and go merrily on my way, or is it a bit too late and I have to replace the entire nylon tubing by dropping the tank? Tubing's still in good condition and all, a litte bent, but holds fuel pressure.
