Difficulty with Fuel Filter Removal

[camrii]

I was trying to change out my fuel filter today on my 96 camry (4 cyl) but didn't have much luck removing the bottom bolt. There isn't much clearance to work with and I was wondering how other people did it.

I took some pictures just to clarify what I am talking about. It appears the bottom bolt isn't a bolt at all. Or is it?

[skewe]

YOU would need two wrench (can't remember the name of the wrench but it's a special wrench)

One to grip the bottom, one to turn the bolt.

I changed it on my 93 and 2000.

Was suppose to change it for my friend's solara but could not get it off too.. 3 ppl tried and it did not work.

[skewe]

if everything fails, get a blow torch. It will heat up the bolts and it should do the trick.

*I am Not responsible for any injuries, explosions..

[toyomoho]

Use a flare nut wrench.

[Zandro]

What kind of wrench did you use on that? i hope you didnt use an Crescent wrench,
they ruin more bolts and nuts than any other tool out there, in my opinion its a tool
of last resort. A flare nut wrench should do the trick if you can get it to seat properly.

[tracyf]

The above posts list the right thing - a flare nut wrench. But, if you (or someone before you doing it) has buggered it up like mine was, you may need to break down and use what I did - some vise-grips or a pipe wrench - although this will bugger it up a little bit more and any future changes will require the same tool - penetrant helps too. Just thought you should know there is an alternative if even your flare-nut wrench rides around it like mine did. Best of luck.

Tracy

[skewe]

Yup, use a flare wrench
it will give you better grip.

Get a set from Sears. They sell like a set of 4
U will need two of them. One to grip the top bolt which is actually the fuel filter that is posted in ur picture (black color).

The other is to grip the bolt you might have stripped...

all the best

[DFBonnett]

In addition to the flare wrenches which are absolutely necessary to avoid damaging this kind of fitting, you might try soaking it with some penetrating oil such as PB Blaster, Kroil, or CRC. Letting it soak over night would be a good idea. If that fitting gets buggered up it will be a real pain to repair.
FWIW
YMMV

[camrii]

Ok thanks for the suggestion guys.. I'll go to sears and get a crescent wrench set.

[skewe]

flare wrench set. Expect to pay 20-35 dollars for a set of 4. The set i got was 4 pieces but I had 8 'heads'

here is a pic of it


doubt that u can wait but this dude is selling it on ebar for cheap
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/6-PC-...ayphotohosting

don't bother going to autozone, it is more expensive there

u might want to try walmart

[popeye08]

Wow, don't know there is this kind of wrench. I tried to replace the oil filter, but failed to remove the lower nut too. I should have known that.

[dna59]

I justreplaced my fuel filter yesterday. All I used was those same kinda wrenches. The one that gave me problems was the top one, cuz I didn't have the size to hold the fuel filter while I loosened the bolt. I had to grip that shit wiht a vise then loose the bolt.

[camryGen3]

use some vise grips(plier verison) and wrenchs to try to turn the filter off.
vise grip the messed up bolt and use the wrench on the filter.

[lenjack]

toyota moved it out a little further in later models to give more room.

[camrii]

After some tools and running around to Sears and Advance Auto Parts, I was able to change it out.Fortunately it was not stripped as I might have thought but I was able to tighten it back to spec when I installed the new filter. I haven't noticed anything different before and after even though the original filter was on for 136,000 miles. Any of you guys notice anything? My car didn't have any problems initially but I changed it out as a routine maintenance procedure. Again, thanks for all of your input.