C5 Fuel Filter install
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Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 731
Likes: 9
From: Ivins, Utah
C5 Fuel Filter install
I finally replaced my fuel filter, first time in 20 years and I now know why I haven’t replaced it before, it’s a pain to replace.
I’ve had this fuel filter for 10 years (yes I dated it). I figured I’d use it even though it’s 10 years old, I figure the original one lasted 20 years, so this one should too so I have a good 10 years to go.
I recently took a look at my 10 year old filter and I found that it’s been stored well.
It’s been stored in the NAPA Gold box inside a zip lock plastic bag. When I opened it all up I found that the filter itself, inside the box was in another zip lock plastic bag. All 3 ports still had their plastic caps and all in great shape. It’s a metal filter so I’m sure it’s fine even being 10 years old.
But it was still a pain to install.
I jacked up the car, let it rest on jack stands, only to find I hadn’t raised it quite high enough, so I raised it a bit more and then I could get under there ok. I was able to see the filter but no way could I touch it, just too much in the way. But I decided that if I disconnect the muffler at the on connection below the filter I might be able to reach it. So removing the 2 nuts and bolts at that exhaust connection I was able to push the muffler aside far enough to get one hand up there to reach the filter.
There are 3 connectors and 1 nut to remove to get the filter out, I decided to remove the 2 smaller connectors first (2 connectors on the same end of the filter) but trying and trying I just could not get either one off. The connectors being so close together didn’t help either. I was just not strong enough to squeeze and pull the connector off with one hand and such limited space I just couldn’t do it. So I got a small flat head screw driver and prying and pushing I got one off !!!
Gas spilled everywhere, but then it stopped.
Now I had more room but I still was not strong enough to squeeze the connector so back to my flat head again and I got the second one off too.
Now to the single connector on the other end of the filter. For this you need that special fuel line too … which I have, but I am not sure what size it is. I took a break to try to find out what size to use with no luck. So I guessed on the size and I tried and tried and nope. So I went to 1 size smaller tool, which I thought was too small but testing it on the new filter it just may work. So up it went and I got it on the fuel line after dropping it a time or two. I was able to get it much farther in the fuel filter connector but it still wouldn’t disconnect. I took the tool out and checked it in the new filter to find that it needs to go pretty much all the way in before it will disconnect the clips holding the fuel line on. I decided to remove the mounting nut at this point thinking a loose fuel filter may be easier to get off.
Back on the fuel line my tool went and this time I got a big flat head screw driver. I just was not strong enough to push the tool in as far as I now knew it needed to go.
I took another break and decided to look as a You Tube video and I saw the guy did have a hard time getting this connector off while using two hands since there was no transmission in his car … I had much less room to work with.
But using my big flat head screw driver I was able to push the disconnect tool in far enough and wiggle and turn the filter until it popped off (omg) I emptied the fuel filter of its remaining gas over some unwanted weeds.
What a relief, what a pain.
I transferred two plastic clips to the new filter, then realized I should have put them into the connectors in the car, but I decided to give this a try. I had to rotate the clips to line up with the connectors on the car but it wasn’t too bad and they both popped on, then the one on the other end, I was able to push the filter on till I heard it pop on as well.
It was then that I realized that I should have put the filter over the mounting stud, but with great effort and the fact that I was not going to even try to remove any of those three connectors ever again, I got the filter over the stud. I used blue Loctite on the stud which in itself was hard to get on the stud because I had to squeeze the bottle “up” but I got a good amount on the stud so on went the nut and I was able to tighten it down. I should have used a ¼” drive socket but I managed with a 3/8” drive, barely. I was supposed to torque the nut down but there was just no way I was getting a torque wrench up there so I just tightened it down and with the Loctite it should be fine.
But now I had to test for leaks so I turned the key on and off a few times and I saw no leaks, but I wasn’t happy with that, so I started her up with the muffler hanging off and after a second o two it fired up with no leaks, I had managed to do it right.
On went the 2 muffler bolts and I was done. I told myself that if I finished before noon I was continue and bleed the brakes.
As I was cleaning up and throwing the old filter and the box away I heard the clock hit 12, so I went on the bleed the brakes (ATE Type 200) which I found to be a much easier job than replacing that fuel filter.
It took me at least 2 hours to replace the fuel filter.
I’ve had this fuel filter for 10 years (yes I dated it). I figured I’d use it even though it’s 10 years old, I figure the original one lasted 20 years, so this one should too so I have a good 10 years to go.
I recently took a look at my 10 year old filter and I found that it’s been stored well.
It’s been stored in the NAPA Gold box inside a zip lock plastic bag. When I opened it all up I found that the filter itself, inside the box was in another zip lock plastic bag. All 3 ports still had their plastic caps and all in great shape. It’s a metal filter so I’m sure it’s fine even being 10 years old.
But it was still a pain to install.
I jacked up the car, let it rest on jack stands, only to find I hadn’t raised it quite high enough, so I raised it a bit more and then I could get under there ok. I was able to see the filter but no way could I touch it, just too much in the way. But I decided that if I disconnect the muffler at the on connection below the filter I might be able to reach it. So removing the 2 nuts and bolts at that exhaust connection I was able to push the muffler aside far enough to get one hand up there to reach the filter.
There are 3 connectors and 1 nut to remove to get the filter out, I decided to remove the 2 smaller connectors first (2 connectors on the same end of the filter) but trying and trying I just could not get either one off. The connectors being so close together didn’t help either. I was just not strong enough to squeeze and pull the connector off with one hand and such limited space I just couldn’t do it. So I got a small flat head screw driver and prying and pushing I got one off !!!
Gas spilled everywhere, but then it stopped.
Now I had more room but I still was not strong enough to squeeze the connector so back to my flat head again and I got the second one off too.
Now to the single connector on the other end of the filter. For this you need that special fuel line too … which I have, but I am not sure what size it is. I took a break to try to find out what size to use with no luck. So I guessed on the size and I tried and tried and nope. So I went to 1 size smaller tool, which I thought was too small but testing it on the new filter it just may work. So up it went and I got it on the fuel line after dropping it a time or two. I was able to get it much farther in the fuel filter connector but it still wouldn’t disconnect. I took the tool out and checked it in the new filter to find that it needs to go pretty much all the way in before it will disconnect the clips holding the fuel line on. I decided to remove the mounting nut at this point thinking a loose fuel filter may be easier to get off.
Back on the fuel line my tool went and this time I got a big flat head screw driver. I just was not strong enough to push the tool in as far as I now knew it needed to go.
I took another break and decided to look as a You Tube video and I saw the guy did have a hard time getting this connector off while using two hands since there was no transmission in his car … I had much less room to work with.
But using my big flat head screw driver I was able to push the disconnect tool in far enough and wiggle and turn the filter until it popped off (omg) I emptied the fuel filter of its remaining gas over some unwanted weeds.
What a relief, what a pain.
I transferred two plastic clips to the new filter, then realized I should have put them into the connectors in the car, but I decided to give this a try. I had to rotate the clips to line up with the connectors on the car but it wasn’t too bad and they both popped on, then the one on the other end, I was able to push the filter on till I heard it pop on as well.
It was then that I realized that I should have put the filter over the mounting stud, but with great effort and the fact that I was not going to even try to remove any of those three connectors ever again, I got the filter over the stud. I used blue Loctite on the stud which in itself was hard to get on the stud because I had to squeeze the bottle “up” but I got a good amount on the stud so on went the nut and I was able to tighten it down. I should have used a ¼” drive socket but I managed with a 3/8” drive, barely. I was supposed to torque the nut down but there was just no way I was getting a torque wrench up there so I just tightened it down and with the Loctite it should be fine.
But now I had to test for leaks so I turned the key on and off a few times and I saw no leaks, but I wasn’t happy with that, so I started her up with the muffler hanging off and after a second o two it fired up with no leaks, I had managed to do it right.
On went the 2 muffler bolts and I was done. I told myself that if I finished before noon I was continue and bleed the brakes.
As I was cleaning up and throwing the old filter and the box away I heard the clock hit 12, so I went on the bleed the brakes (ATE Type 200) which I found to be a much easier job than replacing that fuel filter.
It took me at least 2 hours to replace the fuel filter.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 286
Likes: 2
From: 99702 Malae Place Aiea Hawai’i
I finally replaced my fuel filter, first time in 20 years and I now know why I haven’t replaced it before, it’s a pain to replace.
I’ve had this fuel filter for 10 years (yes I dated it). I figured I’d use it even though it’s 10 years old, I figure the original one lasted 20 years, so this one should too so I have a good 10 years to go.
I recently took a look at my 10 year old filter and I found that it’s been stored well.
It’s been stored in the NAPA Gold box inside a zip lock plastic bag. When I opened it all up I found that the filter itself, inside the box was in another zip lock plastic bag. All 3 ports still had their plastic caps and all in great shape. It’s a metal filter so I’m sure it’s fine even being 10 years old.
But it was still a pain to install.
I jacked up the car, let it rest on jack stands, only to find I hadn’t raised it quite high enough, so I raised it a bit more and then I could get under there ok. I was able to see the filter but no way could I touch it, just too much in the way. But I decided that if I disconnect the muffler at the on connection below the filter I might be able to reach it. So removing the 2 nuts and bolts at that exhaust connection I was able to push the muffler aside far enough to get one hand up there to reach the filter.
There are 3 connectors and 1 nut to remove to get the filter out, I decided to remove the 2 smaller connectors first (2 connectors on the same end of the filter) but trying and trying I just could not get either one off. The connectors being so close together didn’t help either. I was just not strong enough to squeeze and pull the connector off with one hand and such limited space I just couldn’t do it. So I got a small flat head screw driver and prying and pushing I got one off !!!
Gas spilled everywhere, but then it stopped.
Now I had more room but I still was not strong enough to squeeze the connector so back to my flat head again and I got the second one off too.
Now to the single connector on the other end of the filter. For this you need that special fuel line too … which I have, but I am not sure what size it is. I took a break to try to find out what size to use with no luck. So I guessed on the size and I tried and tried and nope. So I went to 1 size smaller tool, which I thought was too small but testing it on the new filter it just may work. So up it went and I got it on the fuel line after dropping it a time or two. I was able to get it much farther in the fuel filter connector but it still wouldn’t disconnect. I took the tool out and checked it in the new filter to find that it needs to go pretty much all the way in before it will disconnect the clips holding the fuel line on. I decided to remove the mounting nut at this point thinking a loose fuel filter may be easier to get off.
Back on the fuel line my tool went and this time I got a big flat head screw driver. I just was not strong enough to push the tool in as far as I now knew it needed to go.
I took another break and decided to look as a You Tube video and I saw the guy did have a hard time getting this connector off while using two hands since there was no transmission in his car … I had much less room to work with.
But using my big flat head screw driver I was able to push the disconnect tool in far enough and wiggle and turn the filter until it popped off (omg) I emptied the fuel filter of its remaining gas over some unwanted weeds.
What a relief, what a pain.
I transferred two plastic clips to the new filter, then realized I should have put them into the connectors in the car, but I decided to give this a try. I had to rotate the clips to line up with the connectors on the car but it wasn’t too bad and they both popped on, then the one on the other end, I was able to push the filter on till I heard it pop on as well.
It was then that I realized that I should have put the filter over the mounting stud, but with great effort and the fact that I was not going to even try to remove any of those three connectors ever again, I got the filter over the stud. I used blue Loctite on the stud which in itself was hard to get on the stud because I had to squeeze the bottle “up” but I got a good amount on the stud so on went the nut and I was able to tighten it down. I should have used a ¼” drive socket but I managed with a 3/8” drive, barely. I was supposed to torque the nut down but there was just no way I was getting a torque wrench up there so I just tightened it down and with the Loctite it should be fine.
But now I had to test for leaks so I turned the key on and off a few times and I saw no leaks, but I wasn’t happy with that, so I started her up with the muffler hanging off and after a second o two it fired up with no leaks, I had managed to do it right.
On went the 2 muffler bolts and I was done. I told myself that if I finished before noon I was continue and bleed the brakes.
As I was cleaning up and throwing the old filter and the box away I heard the clock hit 12, so I went on the bleed the brakes (ATE Type 200) which I found to be a much easier job than replacing that fuel filter.
It took me at least 2 hours to replace the fuel filter.
I’ve had this fuel filter for 10 years (yes I dated it). I figured I’d use it even though it’s 10 years old, I figure the original one lasted 20 years, so this one should too so I have a good 10 years to go.
I recently took a look at my 10 year old filter and I found that it’s been stored well.
It’s been stored in the NAPA Gold box inside a zip lock plastic bag. When I opened it all up I found that the filter itself, inside the box was in another zip lock plastic bag. All 3 ports still had their plastic caps and all in great shape. It’s a metal filter so I’m sure it’s fine even being 10 years old.
But it was still a pain to install.
I jacked up the car, let it rest on jack stands, only to find I hadn’t raised it quite high enough, so I raised it a bit more and then I could get under there ok. I was able to see the filter but no way could I touch it, just too much in the way. But I decided that if I disconnect the muffler at the on connection below the filter I might be able to reach it. So removing the 2 nuts and bolts at that exhaust connection I was able to push the muffler aside far enough to get one hand up there to reach the filter.
There are 3 connectors and 1 nut to remove to get the filter out, I decided to remove the 2 smaller connectors first (2 connectors on the same end of the filter) but trying and trying I just could not get either one off. The connectors being so close together didn’t help either. I was just not strong enough to squeeze and pull the connector off with one hand and such limited space I just couldn’t do it. So I got a small flat head screw driver and prying and pushing I got one off !!!
Gas spilled everywhere, but then it stopped.
Now I had more room but I still was not strong enough to squeeze the connector so back to my flat head again and I got the second one off too.
Now to the single connector on the other end of the filter. For this you need that special fuel line too … which I have, but I am not sure what size it is. I took a break to try to find out what size to use with no luck. So I guessed on the size and I tried and tried and nope. So I went to 1 size smaller tool, which I thought was too small but testing it on the new filter it just may work. So up it went and I got it on the fuel line after dropping it a time or two. I was able to get it much farther in the fuel filter connector but it still wouldn’t disconnect. I took the tool out and checked it in the new filter to find that it needs to go pretty much all the way in before it will disconnect the clips holding the fuel line on. I decided to remove the mounting nut at this point thinking a loose fuel filter may be easier to get off.
Back on the fuel line my tool went and this time I got a big flat head screw driver. I just was not strong enough to push the tool in as far as I now knew it needed to go.
I took another break and decided to look as a You Tube video and I saw the guy did have a hard time getting this connector off while using two hands since there was no transmission in his car … I had much less room to work with.
But using my big flat head screw driver I was able to push the disconnect tool in far enough and wiggle and turn the filter until it popped off (omg) I emptied the fuel filter of its remaining gas over some unwanted weeds.
What a relief, what a pain.
I transferred two plastic clips to the new filter, then realized I should have put them into the connectors in the car, but I decided to give this a try. I had to rotate the clips to line up with the connectors on the car but it wasn’t too bad and they both popped on, then the one on the other end, I was able to push the filter on till I heard it pop on as well.
It was then that I realized that I should have put the filter over the mounting stud, but with great effort and the fact that I was not going to even try to remove any of those three connectors ever again, I got the filter over the stud. I used blue Loctite on the stud which in itself was hard to get on the stud because I had to squeeze the bottle “up” but I got a good amount on the stud so on went the nut and I was able to tighten it down. I should have used a ¼” drive socket but I managed with a 3/8” drive, barely. I was supposed to torque the nut down but there was just no way I was getting a torque wrench up there so I just tightened it down and with the Loctite it should be fine.
But now I had to test for leaks so I turned the key on and off a few times and I saw no leaks, but I wasn’t happy with that, so I started her up with the muffler hanging off and after a second o two it fired up with no leaks, I had managed to do it right.
On went the 2 muffler bolts and I was done. I told myself that if I finished before noon I was continue and bleed the brakes.
As I was cleaning up and throwing the old filter and the box away I heard the clock hit 12, so I went on the bleed the brakes (ATE Type 200) which I found to be a much easier job than replacing that fuel filter.
It took me at least 2 hours to replace the fuel filter.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
Its a once in 20 year job.....I did mine after 17 or 18 years. It was not fun but got it done. If you're going to own one of these C5's for 20 years, we have to maintain these things well.
Last edited by runner140*; Aug 27, 2019 at 01:05 PM. Reason: add
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 731
Likes: 9
From: Ivins, Utah
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 747
Sorry to hear you went through that much trouble. I always seem to run into issues on "simple" jobs too, but when I did mine a few months ago on my 2001, it was a 30 minute cake walk. Put the rear on ramps, used a standard set of plastic fuel line tools, and everything was very straightforward and trouble free. Didn't have to touch mufflers or remove anything besides the the fuel filter lines and mounting bolt 
What year is yours? Maybe there's a difference?
What year is yours? Maybe there's a difference?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 731
Likes: 9
From: Ivins, Utah
Sorry to hear you went through that much trouble. I always seem to run into issues on "simple" jobs too, but when I did mine a few months ago on my 2001, it was a 30 minute cake walk. Put the rear on ramps, used a standard set of plastic fuel line tools, and everything was very straightforward and trouble free. Didn't have to touch mufflers or remove anything besides the the fuel filter lines and mounting bolt What year is yours? Maybe there's a difference?
What year is yours? Maybe there's a difference?I was not able to fit my hand up there without at least unbolting the muffler and pushing it aside.
