Fuel Filter - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

toyotun · 03-03-2006, 09:10 AM

I have a 2003 Corolla CE with 54,000 miles. I've been accustom to change my vehicles fuel filter every 15,000miles, but I've been having a difficult time to access it in this car. The dealer tells me that it is inside the fuel tank and it is not required to change it. To me this is hard to believe, how can you leave a filter unchanged in a vehicle? That's why they're filters to get dirty and be replaced. Can anybody tell me where it is and how can I replace it? I appreciate your help.

SBUBandit · 03-03-2006, 10:04 AM

That's been the case with Corolla for a few years now. The only filter is a screen attached to the intake on the fuel pump. I felt the same way you do, so at 100,000 miles I pulled the bottom of the rear seat out, unbolted the hatch, and pulled the fuel pump up and replaced the screen. To my amazement, this isn;'t that hard, and was also unneccessary, the screen was clean. I replaced it anyways since I was in there, but I wouldn't worry about it at 15000 miles. They aren't really a traditional filter. I don't know if that hatch is under the back seat on an 03, but on a 00, Its on the drivers side, under the back seat.

toyotun · 03-03-2006, 10:23 AM

Thanks for your prompt reply. I will try to do that this weekend.

Raddman · 03-03-2006, 11:54 AM

Quote:

The only filter is a screen attached to the intake on the fuel pump.

I have a 03 also, did you buy the new screen from a dealer or a rice store?...How much and could it just be taken off and cleaned and put back on?....What about transmission filters how often should they be changed, I'm at 53k now...thanks...Radd Guy...

SBUBandit · 03-03-2006, 12:49 PM

According to the dealers, you never have to change it, but its cheap, so I'd rather just do it. I bought mine at a local AutoValue or maybe it was the CarQuest. They're right next door to each other here. Anyways I only paid like 10 bucks for it, and it took me maybe an hour. To pull the seat out, mine does not have the split thing where the back folds down, so just two clips holds it down. I just put the front seats all the way forward, climbed in, and pulled straight up pretty hard. The whole bottom of the seat popped right out in one big piece. You can buy them also at rockauto.com, and I think autopartsworld.com. Its usually called a fuel pump strainer