Flail-o-rama

Vanishing Point · April 21st, 2003, 11:19 PM

Talk about a flail, try changing the fuel filter on a '97 GTS.

First day we tried it we finally had to pull back the inner fender wall
to obtain reasonable access and once we got there
neither me (6' 1" 240#) or my brother (6' 4" 250#) had the strength
the push in the tab on the erroneously named "Quick Connect" fitting.
After trying a few hours we put it back together.
Went back to the shop and spent an evening designing
and the fabricating a special tool to push in the tabs.

On the second attempt, fender wall pulled back, another 1/2 hour required
to fine tune the special tool, and finally managed to unhook the fuel filter
from the fuel line. Everthing went fine after that.

Total time spent, including tool fabrication, about 7 hours.
You'd think an engineer could design a fitting that disconnects quickly
and without having to build a special tool to make it work.
Also you would think that a frequently replaced item like a fuel filter
would be placed somewhere where it could actually be reached in the event
that it needed to be changed out in the field.

There, done venting.

Captain Bli · April 22nd, 2003, 06:21 PM

If it is a clip that is retained by a spring inside sprya it with wd40 and let it sit the blow it out and spray it again. dirt gets stuck and makes it hard to release the spring.

Gtsboy · April 23rd, 2003, 10:56 AM

man, have one sitting in the garage to go on.

What year and model is the car?

My 97 GTS doesn't look toooo horrible!

Did you release the gas line pressure at the fitting at the motor as per manual with the "special" tool, and if not is the built up fuel pressure all that bad??

GTS Dean · April 23rd, 2003, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gtsboy

Did you release the gas line pressure at the fitting at the motor as per manual with the "special" tool, and if not is the built up fuel pressure all that bad??

Well, it's only 55psi...

**Smokin** · April 23rd, 2003, 11:19 AM

This is where you say "pay the dealer". They bill by shop rates and if takes em 7 hours, thats their problem. Pay the hour and a half labor and save yourself 7 hours of aggrivation. Say it costs you $160, Id say that is $160 well spent.

Vanishing Point · April 24th, 2003, 09:31 PM

It's a GTS.
Pressure all released.

I just don't like other people working on my stuff.
My wife says I'm a control freak.
I say that after years of people doing crappy work on my stuff
at least I know when I do the work
no matter how long it takes
it is done well, and with some thoughtfullness.

Besides the new tool I made just for this purpose
is mondo cool. A real keeper.

I am glad I did it.
With the new tool next time it will be easier.
Oh yes, it will.