Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General Fuel System

Does anyone have any advice for changing the fuel filter?

I bought a new one and I am looking for advice here before I get started. Is the system pressurized? Where is the filter located? Is there anything I should be aware of that may affect performance?

Any comments are extremly apreciated....

Thanks;

Adam

It is easy to change. It is under the car, near the fuel tank and also just in front of the right rear wheel. It will probably be easier to do it with the right rear wheel on a ramp or jack stand but I have done it without.

The fuel system is pressurized. I don't usually bother releasing he pressure but if you would feel more comfortable you can look for the fuel pressure tap on the fuel rail on the engine . It looks a little like a valve stem from a tire with a screw on cap. Remove the cap and depress the valve (like a tire valve) with a small screwdriver or similar tool and allow the pressure to release. There will be a small amount of fuel. It usually doesn't squirt very far, but watch that you don't get it in your eyes.

From under the car, the filter is held in place with a large hose clamp. Loosen the clamp to access the filter. The filter is attached to the lines with white plastic clips. Pull the clips out with a small screwdriver and remove the filter. Even with the pressure relesed there will be some fuel spilled so don't get driectly under the filter unless you want a gasoline shower. Pay attention to the arrow on the old and new filters so that it is installed in the correct flow direction. The new filter comes with new clips. Install the new clips in the lines first and then push the filter nipple into the line until it locks. Reinstall the hose clamp retainer and you're done.

Thanks a Billion Jim. You answered my question within 10 mins of me posting it!!!! I love CEG

Adam, I can't speak for the later year cars, or the zetec 4s, but if you have a 2.5L, the filter is on the fuel line just in front of the fuel tank towards the passenger side. I didn't have any problems changing mine. I just disconnected the battery to be safe before I got started. Make sure your new filter comes with the 2 plastic clips to lock the fuel line ends on. The old ones are not supposed to be reused. The fuel filter body is held in place by a clamp you can loosen with a screwdriver or small socket and ratchet. I forget the size. When you pull the lines off, be careful. there might be some fuel that spills out from the disconnected line ends and filter. I just used my oil change pan to catch everything, and drained the old fuel filter into that. Put the new filter on according to the directions or fuel flow arrows printed on the filter body. What brand of filter you use is purely up to your personal preference. edit... Sorry, didn't get in quick enough. Big Jim has it right.

Thanks gentelmen, I bought a fram...just because that's kinda the standard around here...It sounds sooo easy...my 'tour is a 95 so I'm guessing that's the one you're refering to. I'm watching the canucks (my home team) go down in FLAMES (pun) right now so I'm not concentrating right now...but it sounds pretty straight forward and I'll go ahead and do it....it did indeed come with 2 white plastic clamps in it, I'm guessing it's easy to see where they go....i'm not too worried about it but I do apreciate all the help you guys....if there is ever anything I can do for you, email me at a_brex@yahoo.com...i changed my door opener lights from green to blue LED last month and if you're interested...I'd be happy to send the how to...I know a lot about the interior of my car and I'd be happy to help if i can.

thanks again,

Adam

Know what I do? Call a fellow CEGer or a troll that I know, or, take it to the dealership...

Uh, that's about the extent of my knowledge on cars...

I wrote a pretty detailed HowTo in the forums, perhaps it could make it's way to the official, HowTos

I guess it fell off the CEG earth as a search turned up nothing.

TB

Thanks all for your helpfull advice! I did de-pressurize the system and I'm pretty glad I did...all the hesitation and poor low band rpm acceleration has gone away and the car feels sooo much better! Now it feels like it did when I bought it (great that is). Now all I need to do is figure out how to get my spard ignition key out of the ignition from when it got stuck yesterday (read that post in the "problem" section)

just one more advice:
the new filter usually comes with 2 small plastic caps on the pipe ends.
you can use those to QUICKLY plug the old filter to avoid gas spillage when you're disconnecting the lines.

Tiv

This site is great. I was looking online for tips on replacing a fuel filter on my '99 Couger, and couldn't find anything. Then I remembered this site, from the days when I used to have a '95 Contour, that is no longer with me, thanks to some idiot who was paying more attention to her cell phone than she was to the stopped traffic up ahead. Anyway, I immediately found this thread, and the procedure is identical to what works on my Couger, not suprising. If you like your Contour, and don't mind 2 doors, you'd probably like a 99+ Couger. Same engines, same TX, same lots of stuff.

Ted