Hey all!!
So I just changed the fuel filter on my Wife's 99 with the dreaded disconnect. Last time I attempted this, I wound up with a face full of gas! Here's how I did it. I was laying on my back with my feet sticking out from under the car, head towards the front of the car. I also moved the charcoal canister out of the way. Made life a little easier.
First, get some PB blaster and soak down the quick connect and the threaded part of the filter.
Twist the quick connect around to get the dirt and crap out, then hit it again with the PB Blaster
Let that marinate for about 10 mins.
Disconnect the threaded line on the filter. I used a 21mm and some vice grips.
Now for the dreaded disconnect.
Push the filter in and out of the disconnect a couple times to loosen it up a bit.
Then with your left hand hold the fuel line
With your right push in as hard as you can on the fuel filter toward the fuel line.
WITHOUT RELEASING THE TENSION get the fingers of your left hand around the front of the quick connect towards the fuel filter and pull back as hard towards the fuel line as you can.
Yank the fuel filter off with your right.
Swear at banging your knuckles.
Swear at GM engineers.
This still is not easy but it worked. I couldn't believe when it popped off. If you have some mechanics gloves, wear one on your right hand so you don't bang your knuckles too bad.
The hardest part is hanging onto the fuel line while trying to get a grip around the front of the disconnect. After a couple tries you should be able to figure it out.
If you can't get it after a half hour, put the threaded line back on and pay a shop to do it. It's not worth the aggravation and you neighbors won't like all the cursing. Have fun!!
I don't know if maybe my 99 was different but i never remember having a problem disconnecting it, its popped right off and it was all done and changed in about 10mins.
Anyway nice write up, should help a few people out here who are having problems
My favourite part is the cursing at GM though, it makes me feel better haha.
(99 - Sunfire - Red - 2200)(95 - Cavalier z24 - Purple - 2.3 quad four)
im sorry but i cant believe this, i will need a video, and you and your grandma there and you have to do a head stand.
man you did good, congrats. hey i will pay you a airplane ticket here if you can come change mines out. i have a stupid filter from the junk yard in mines.
maybe another day i will try to do it again and this time follow your directions.
~1996 Cavalier LS 2.4L (auto)
Letxen3 wrote:im sorry but i cant believe this, i will need a video, and you and your grandma there and you have to do a head stand.
man you did good, congrats. hey i will pay you a airplane ticket here if you can come change mines out. i have a stupid filter from the junk yard in mines.
maybe another day i will try to do it again and this time follow your directions.
Hell yeah man I'll take a free plane ticket to West Palm Beach!!
If you have a junk yard filter on there, just keep soaking it in PB blaster. As in, take an afternoon and keep hitting it every hour or so and just let it sit.
