changing the fuel filter! ISO advice

eFLO · 09-30-2009, 12:19 PM

99 calispec with abs
well got my 300zx filter, my stubby screwdriver, pliers and a can of wd40.
pulled the fuelpump fuse, cranked 6-7 times popped the filter out of the bracket. but can'tget that damn screw-clamp off. the screw won't budge

and its cramped as hell.
any tips?
thanks

snarf8008 · 09-30-2009, 12:27 PM

Just soak it good w wd40, loosen the screw alot, and pry it off w a screw driver. I did mine w a pair of pliers and a screwdriver in a church parking lot lol.

defiance · 09-30-2009, 12:47 PM

what year 300zx for the fuel filter ?

Nopike · 09-30-2009, 12:58 PM

Dremel tool.

*The Wizard* · 09-30-2009, 01:19 PM

Two options:

Twist and twist the fuel filter until the suction of the fuel lines give. Then, they'll pull right off.

Use a blowdryer and and heat up the fuel lines for a minute. This will soften the rubber and allow them to be pulled easily.

Coolsaber57 · 09-30-2009, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eFLO

99 calispec with abs
well got my 300zx filter, my stubby screwdriver, pliers and a can of wd40.
pulled the fuelpump fuse, cranked 6-7 times popped the filter out of the bracket. but can'tget that damn screw-clamp off. the screw won't budge

and its cramped as hell.
any tips?
thanks

You can't get the screw clamp off? Or you can't get the screw clamp to move at all?

eFLO · 09-30-2009, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by defiance

what year 300zx for the fuel filter ?

96

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coolsaber57

You can't get the screw clamp off? Or you can't get the screw clamp to move at all?

what i mean is i can't loosen the screw on the clamp, therefore clamp will not come off.
or will it?

*The Wizard* · 09-30-2009, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eFLO

what i mean is i can't loosen the screw on the clamp, therefore clamp will not come off.
or will it?

Of course it will loosen. Keep trying.

eFLO · 09-30-2009, 02:29 PM

..it's on there pretty tight lol..there's hardly any space to work with. i'll give it another go later otherwise i'll just ask my mechanic to swap it for me when i go for an oil change.

Coolsaber57 · 09-30-2009, 02:57 PM

Did you use the wd-40 on it? Is it rusted, or just really tight?

maxcima · 09-30-2009, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Wizard

Two options:

Twist and twist the fuel filter until the suction of the fuel lines give. Then, they'll pull right off.

Use a blowdryer and and heat up the fuel lines for a minute. This will soften the rubber and allow them to be pulled easily.

this is fuel man

....beware of any heat saurce near by

Coolsaber57 · 09-30-2009, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxcima

this is fuel man

....beware of any heat saurce near by

As long as he doesn't touch the metal hairdryer grate to the fuel he should be fine. Even then i kinda doubt it'd get that hot to ignite the fuel.

eFLO · 09-30-2009, 03:16 PM

it's more like i can't really get my hand in there to hold the filter well while i try to turn the screwdriver, so i cant really apply much force. but it is pretty damn stuck

*The Wizard* · 09-30-2009, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxcima

this is fuel man

....beware of any heat saurce near by

Surely you can't be serious. You act like I recommended a blowtorch or a heatgun. You do realize just how hot the fuel gets going through the fuel rail...

caseymaxima · 09-30-2009, 04:33 PM

Why is the Maxima fuel filter so hard to get the hoses off? It makes no sense at all! Every other vehicle I own is very simple! Even my Pathfinder (which has the same basic filter as the Max) the hoses come off easy. Hands down the Maxima fuel hoses are the worst to remove!

Zack

wai18 · 09-30-2009, 06:09 PM

is damn hard to take if off there's so much pressure inside i can't take it off my cousin did it for me.

caseymaxima · 09-30-2009, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wai18

is damn hard to take if off there's so much pressure inside i can't take it off my cousin did it for me.

Well you must remove the pressure, but even with doing that it is still almost impossible to remove the hoses. The fastest way to remove the pressure is to pull the fuel pump fuse, and let the car run out of gas, and also open the gas cap. It is just so odd to me that the Max is so hard.

Zack

Celired · 10-01-2009, 01:29 AM

I couldn't figure out how to change mine with the cramped space either, I doubt I would've ever figured it out if my friend didn't do it for me. He took off the Air Filter housing, along with everything attached to it including the Mass Airflow and whatever that box is called after it up until the hose that is clamped down to the engine. Once that was out of the way it took a few minutes to replace it. Most of the time spent was taking off/putting back on the air filter housing, and that he was showing me what he was doing. I too put in a 300zx fuel filter. Some fuel did spill out cause I didn't depressurize it, actually it kind of shot out. If you did what I did make sure you dont aim it at your face and you'll be fine. I never used wd40 when I did this.

I don't have ABS on my 96' so I'm not sure how much difference there is when changing the filter.

*The Wizard* · 10-01-2009, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wai18

is damn hard to take if off there's so much pressure inside i can't take it off my cousin did it for me.

I assure you pressure has nothing to do with it.

I've relieved the fuel pressure on one of my Max's, forgot on the other, made no difference.

njmaxseltd · 10-01-2009, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eFLO

it's more like i can't really get my hand in there to hold the filter well while i try to turn the screwdriver, so i cant really apply much force. but it is pretty damn stuck

Take the intake tubes out from the TB to the air box. This will give you more room to get your hands down around the fuel filter. Also, a warm engine compartment will make the hoses softer and easier to work with.

1997MAXZ · 10-01-2009, 07:49 AM

Can someone tell me the advantages of using the 300zx fuel filter?

caseymaxima · 10-01-2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1997MAXZ

Can someone tell me the advantages of using the 300zx fuel filter?

I have the 300ZX filter in my car, and I think it was explained here that the filter is bigger, so it filters better and longer?

Zack

njmaxseltd · 10-02-2009, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1997MAXZ

Can someone tell me the advantages of using the 300zx fuel filter?

It appears bigger, and we all know that bigger is always better.

eFLO · 10-04-2009, 12:22 PM

well, you guys may think i'm crazy but that damn screw will not budge and i've rounded it a little so the screwdriver barely catches on it anymore. weird that it's on so tight.

i notice there is also a screw clamp on the hose further down where my finger is touching, so i tried turning that one and it is WAY easier to undo. so can i remove that clamp and pull the filter up to me and try to get it loosened?

Nopike · 10-04-2009, 01:32 PM

If you stripped the screw cut the clamp or screw off you can buy a new clamp.

bamboomerang · 10-04-2009, 05:15 PM

Simply use pliers and crush the metal nipples to get the hoses off. No need to be gentle with trash.

acclimate · 10-04-2009, 11:02 PM

I used a flat screw driver to wedge up the barb while I twist/wiggle the hose off. The hose was on crazy tight with very little room to use two hands. When that PITA filter finally came off I threw my hands up like Rocky Bolboa splashing gasoline everywhere.

caseymaxima · 10-05-2009, 04:45 AM

There is a hose puller tool that may be used, but I have never attempted to use it. Does anyone have any info, on this tye of tool, or where to get it?

Thanks,
Zack

*Phaedrus220* · 10-05-2009, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamboomerang

Simply use pliers and crush the metal nipples to get the hoses off. No need to be gentle with trash.

hold your calls, we have a winner. now I'm looking forward to crushing the nipples at the next filter change.

bamboomerang · 10-05-2009, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caseymaxima

There is a hose puller tool that may be used, but I have never attempted to use it. Does anyone have any info, on this tye of tool, or where to get it?

Thanks,
Zack

For a good homemade hose grabber tool, get a cheap pair of slip-joint pliars (linemans pliers or even a pair of longnose visegips might work) and hold a grinder to roughly take out a round section at the top about the size of a sharpie marker. I've used hose pinchers and other grabbers, and these prove to have the most control/versatility - and are the cheapest.

I originally found an ancient set of pliars fitting this description in my old mans toolbox, I unsuccessfully tried to find them in stores (because he wouldn't give them to me) - only to realize upon closer examination that they were 'modded' pliers - so I made my own.

It would look something like this (photochopped), but the tip would be wider/have more contact surface so as not to damage rubber hoses while twisting/pulling.

*The Wizard* · 10-05-2009, 09:50 PM

/\ Great tool, but good luck getting that in tight spaces.

A regular Hose puller is sold at Autozone, Harbor freight, Napa etc.