Fuel filter replacement.

[conmore]

Hi there

Any Ford guru / automotive techs able to shed some light on how you replace the fuel filter on a 1998 KJ Laser hatchback. The filter sits in a cradle ob the firewall adjacent to the throttle body but lower. I removed the evaporation canister which gains you access to the bolts on the cradle and the outlet hose clamp and hose, but I can't get enough slack in the inlet line to get to the clamp and hose on the bottom of the filter

Even put the vehicle up on ramps top get to it from the bottom but there is too much mechanical stuff in the way.

Has to be an easy way to do this job.. Any clues anyone, please.

Cheers

[wesso]

Is this an EFI model? If so then I'm sure it would have a metal high pressure fuel filter much the same as my '83 model familiar that is also mounted on the firewall near the throttle body. I am trying to recall how I went about changing mine the last time I did it and I remember that it was a right pain in the ... I had to undo all the screws in the bracket that held it in place and then I went under the car and released the fuel line from its mounting points to give it just enough slack for me to get the hose off.
It pays to have small but strong hands to get in there too : although I'm sure there has to be a much more logical way to do it as I can hardly imagine a professional doing what I did. Anyway once I had the old filter out of the car I replaced the bottom hose with a slightly longer one so that it would be easier to do the job the next time. It also made it much easier to get the new one back in. The trick is to remember to re-catch the metal fuel line under the car back in its clamps otherwise it will rattle like a pig and drive ya nuts.
Maybe take photo and post it here to show the problem which will make it a bit easier to resolve?

[conmore]

Hi there
Yep, it an EFI model and I'm going to try and trace the fuel line back from the inlet of the fuel filter and try and give it some slack there.
Cheers