Fuel filter location?

[mejulihn]

I bought a new fuel filter yesterday to replace the old one as part of routine maintenance. Now all I have to do is find out where it goes on the car! I have a '76 with the fuel pump mounted in the front trunk. Thanks for the help!

[This message has been edited by mejulihn (edited 07-21-2000).]

[bowlsby]

If memory serves me, the Haynes manual shows a removable plate in the front trunk of the 75-76 cars...I think the fuel pump and filter are located behind that rectangular plate...presumably in a location under the the gas tank.

Be sure the arrow on the filter points in the direction of fuel flow!

[Dave Bell]

I'll second Bowlsby on that location. There are 4 screws holding the plate to the sheet metal wall and two bolts holding the rubber shock mounts attached to the fuel pump. You only really need to take off the 4 attaching the plate to the sheet metal, but I usually take it all apart when I am going in there.

You may have to maneuver things around somewhat to get the pump to slide out and pull out the filter behind it.

Filter goes between the tank and the fuel pump.

Now if the fuel lines have not been changed in many years.. they may be old and brittle. If they are in real bad shape, just moving them around can cause new cracks that show up later and cause a pool of gas on your garage floor... ask me how I know.... If they are that old, change them fast!

If they are not so old, you may want to trim off the ends of the hose that attach to either end of the fuel filter so you get some reasonably fresh, previously unstretched portion of hose to go back over the new filter.

And you thought something as simple as a fuel filter could not generate a couple paragraph list of suggestions/instructions.

- Dave

[Jim Smolka]

I second what Dave says about the fuel filter lines. When my '75 generated a leak, I lifted the tank and replaced all the lines. Peace of mind is worth alot. Just be sure to when you replace the tank that all the lines are not crimped.

There should be one 3/8" or 10 mm line. The rest should be 8mm or 5/16" I recommend high pressure FI hose.

Might want to also consider replacing plastic fuel hose in the tunnel.

my $0.0175 worth.



------------------
Smoke Daddy

[mejulihn]

Thanks for all the great tips. I pulled the fuel pump and found the filter right where it should be. The fuel lines were in great shape (thank you, Lord) and the new filter was installed in about 20 minutes.

[mbriney]

Just out of curiosity (especially since my 914 is sitting on the side of the road dead right now with a fuel problem) is the location for a '71 fuel filter somewhere else?

Thanks
-Matt

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Yes. Unless someone has moved it, the filter and pump are in the bottom right front corner of the engine bay. It will be a fairly square-looking box with a hose going into each end of it.

In 72 or thereabouts, they added a bracket over on the right-side engine mount pod where the filter went. I don't think that was present on the earlier cars. Regardless, it's up in that corner somewhere.

Unless someone moved it. In which case you'll have to do some looking; most likely up in the area where the steering rack hides. Remove four bolts to pull the "gravel pan" off and check for the pump and filter. Also reach through the circular hole toward the back of that compartment and feel for the fuel lines and the filter.

But check the stock location first.

--DD

[mbriney]

Ok this might be a dumb question, but which direction does the fuel filter go? I have a new clear / plastic metal one, is the metal end to the fuel pump or is the metal end to the gas tank?

Thanks
-Matt

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

If you have fuel injection on your car, do not use that filter. It is intended for the low pressures and flow rates of a carb fuel system and will not handle those that the FI fuel system will create.

I forget which way around it goes...

--DD

[jamcleod]

look closely at the filter because i seem to remember arrows on the filter to indicate flow direction

[AZ914Guy]

I've heard that there are two different size lines on the fuel tank. I'm thinking of relocating my pump to the front and I'm wondering which line gets the fuel pump attached to it.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

The larger line is the supply line, the smaller line is the return line.

--DD