Fuel filter - further info!

[Trouble at t'Mill]

Ok, risk of this becoming a habit...

Did this job t'other day, and the tip I read on this forum to unbolt the filter housing to give better access to the filter was very helpful. I had to go a little further, tho'...

I'd also read on here to disconnect the 'sediment' wiring at the in-line plug to allow the large nut underneath to be turned without twisting the wire. That was also a good tip - except that even after disconnecting this plug, the part still wired to the sediment sensor was the part still fixed to the mounting bracket! So, this plug end needed to be unclipped from the bracket. Easily done using small long-nosed pliers. The fixing is a tapered 'pin' with springy-out sides - once pushed into the hole, these bits spring out and hold it in place. So, the long-nosed pliers can be used to gently squeeze-in these 'wings' and the plug pulled from the metal bracket.

I unbolted the filter housing and - gnnnuh, ggrrrrhuh, aaarrrgghhh - the filter still wouldn't budge. So I disconnected the inlet and outlet pipes from the housing too - very simple: use snub-nosed pliers to squeeze the clip sticky-out bits together to expand the clip (ok, obvious when you look at it...) and slide it down the pipe. Give the pipes a firm twist and they should pull off easily. No diesel pours out (visions of the contents of the tank draining out...)

(Clean all around the pipes before dismantling.)

(Little risk of reconnecting the pipes the wrong way round - the filter housing has arrowheads pointing towards the pipes; the 'out' arrow goes, er, towards the engine!)

Once out, a bench vice made short shrift of the tight filter. What a bonus that the Bongo is self-priming!

[spout]

Don't suppose you fancy nipping outside and changing your cambelt do you?

Your handy tips would be very useful this weekend.

[dandywarhol]

Ok, risk of this becoming a habit...

Did this job t'other day, and the tip I read on this forum to unbolt the filter housing to give better access to the filter was very helpful. I had to go a little further, tho'...

I'd also read on here to disconnect the 'sediment' wiring at the in-line plug to allow the large nut underneath to be turned without twisting the wire. That was also a good tip - except that even after disconnecting this plug, the part still wired to the sediment sensor was the part still fixed to the mounting bracket! So, this plug end needed to be unclipped from the bracket. Easily done using small long-nosed pliers. The fixing is a tapered 'pin' with springy-out sides - once pushed into the hole, these bits spring out and hold it in place. So, the long-nosed pliers can be used to gently squeeze-in these 'wings' and the plug pulled from the metal bracket.

I unbolted the filter housing and - gnnnuh, ggrrrrhuh, aaarrrgghhh - the filter still wouldn't budge. So I disconnected the inlet and outlet pipes from the housing too - very simple: use snub-nosed pliers to squeeze the clip sticky-out bits together to expand the clip (ok, obvious when you look at it...) and slide it down the pipe. Give the pipes a firm twist and they should pull off easily. No diesel pours out (visions of the contents of the tank draining out...)

(Clean all around the pipes before dismantling.)

(Little risk of reconnecting the pipes the wrong way round - the filter housing has arrowheads pointing towards the pipes; the 'out' arrow goes, er, towards the engine!)

Once out, a bench vice made short shrift of the tight filter. What a bonus that the Bongo is self-priming!

Now - if a mechanic told you that you'd think he was having you on and trying to get more money out of you................................

[Trouble at t'Mill]

Ha ha, Spout. If it was my own car, I'd certainly be doing the cambelt myself. As, however, it was bought on behalf of my niece, I want it to have a garage's guarantee for that particular job!

Dandy - you ol' cynic, you

[alphabetter]

I unbolted the filter housing and - gnnnuh, ggrrrrhuh, aaarrrgghhh - the filter still wouldn't budge. So I disconnected the inlet and outlet pipes from the housing too - very simple: use snub-nosed pliers to squeeze the clip sticky-out bits together to expand the clip (ok, obvious when you look at it...) and slide it down the pipe. Give the pipes a firm twist and they should pull off easily. No diesel pours out (visions of the contents of the tank draining out...)

I found a very simple solution to this problem. If you use all the wiggle room you have it's possible to twist the unit upside down and put it back on its mounting bolts with the the filter pointing up. You can now get a good grip to remove the filter. Saves the trouble of disconnecting the pipes.

[Trouble at t'Mill]

Fair point, alphabetter.

The reason I disconnected the pipes to fully remove the unit was because I couldn't unscrew the filter by hand despite having unbolted the bracket and turning the unit sideways for a good grip. I suspect the filter had never been replaced before.

It was just to mention that going the whole hog and fully removing the unit from the car only took a few additional seconds, and to confirm you won't dump the contents of the diesel tank on your drive (I was watching out for that!)

Cheers.