changing fuel filter
 

I have an 89 manual. How in gods name do you change the fuel filter? I can barely see it much less reach it. What is the best way to go about changing it?

Which one?

Tank or inline???

I thought there was only one, but I mean the one that sits on top of the differential bolted to the chassis

lol ya its a pain in the ass. i crawled under there to change mine and gave up. just reach up there and hope to god this time when you try to turn the wrench that you dont twist the lines. try doucing it in pb blaster/wd40 for like a week lol. thanks for reminding me i still need to wrestle mine

I just can't believe they would do that, I hear the mk2's have them right by the steering column by the firewall, wonder why they would move it to a place like that...

If you want easier access you will have to drop the tank which isn't a big deal after you get the system down that works for you.

Get yourself a 14mm Flare Nut wrench.

It can be done without dropping the tank.

He's got a fuel filter in the tank. If he's got fuel filter problems he should change them both because the chances are the one causing him problems is inside the tank.

Just an opinion though. Those lines twist easy and they aren't cheap to replace. If you kink them you may as well replace them.

Yes, that's correct.

But out of all the tanks I've dropped, I have yet to see the in tank "filter" be clogged at all. It is more of a screen than a filter. It "screens" the big stuff out before it has a chance to clog the in line filter.

Work on this car enough and you'll be wondering why they did ALOT of things. For example, the seven 14mm allen head plugs in the center of the cylinder head. Or how about this gem: the 17mm allen head plug UNDERNEATH the EGR cooler. That's the winner. I can go on all day..... Why did they use such soft aluminum alloy for casting the cylinder head? Why did they put the CPS on the hot side of the cylinder head? Why is the factory head bolt torque value 58ft/lbs?

Alright..., I get your point on the in tank screen/ filter whatever it needs to be called.

I have seen them mucked up and cleaned easily with gas and an old toothbrush so long as the attachment is in tact.