Pesky fuel filter replacement -- SUCCESS!

SparTTan · 08-09-2005, 07:44 PM

Last weekend a few of us were helping me with my fuel filter, and for the life of us, we could not get it off. The Bentley manual says "To remove fuel filter, press release button at connection piece." Problem was we couldn't find a release button.

So I posted here and most responses were from people in the same boat. However, a few of you here said "keep looking; the button is there." And it is, but almost cannot be seen from underneath the car. So I squeezed at different angles with pliers and EUREKA! I found it and got doused with gas when the hose fell right off the nipple on the filter.

Here are a few pics for those who are as befuddled about this as I was. First of all, the small skid plate on the passenger side has to come off. Then you can see the filter.

This is the filter with one side disconnected.

Note I am holding my finger over the end. The fuel line is pressurized, and gas comes squirting out when the line is first disconnected. Have a drain pan ready. I wasn't sure how much gas I was going to lose (it came out pretty strong) and I was nervous at first to find out, but it's not too much--maybe 8 ounces of fuel--but then the pressure dies and it stops squirting.

These next two pics show the button. It's the rectangular shape at the end of the connector. Once you know where it is, it actually presses in fairly easily.

Here is the new filter in place. The connectors just snap right onto the nipple ends of the filter.

Tighten up the band screw, replace the skid plate, and that's it! The car stumbled a little getting started, but that's probably because the filter needed to fill with gas and the line re-pressurize.

Now I will have clean(er) fuel.

MarTT · 08-09-2005, 07:49 PM

chicago_audi_dude · 08-09-2005, 08:06 PM

SparTTan · 08-09-2005, 08:10 PM

Even though the fuel filter replacement is not part of the regular maintenance schedule, I have a tough time accepting a "lifetime" service interval for any filter. Aren't filters supposed to trap dirt and things that shouldn't make it into the engine? Logic tells me that, eventually, that filter will become clogged. The filters are cheap, and I figured it is good "preventative maintenance."

JustAdam · 08-09-2005, 08:29 PM

chicago_audi_dude · 08-09-2005, 08:31 PM

JustAdam · 08-09-2005, 09:24 PM

Really I am just doing a BBK and hopefully seats if they get here!

But really, you should stay in touch, we try to have a mod day for all the TT's as much as needed, want to do anything to your car?

RoberTT-WWCD · 08-10-2005, 06:46 AM

gfbemc · 12-28-2005, 11:52 AM

Thanks for the pictures, but the plastic fittings on the 2001 Audi tt Quattro I tried to replace the filter on do not look like your plastic fittings. I will have to photograph mine to explain better, but they are definitely not like yours and I can not disconnect the lines.

08-09-2005, 07:44 PM	#1
SparTTan Member Account #: 21363 Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 4,236	Pesky fuel filter replacement -- SUCCESS! Last weekend a few of us were helping me with my fuel filter, and for the life of us, we could not get it off. The Bentley manual says "To remove fuel filter, press release button at connection piece." Problem was we couldn't find a release button. So I posted here and most responses were from people in the same boat. However, a few of you here said "keep looking; the button is there." And it is, but almost cannot be seen from underneath the car. So I squeezed at different angles with pliers and EUREKA! I found it and got doused with gas when the hose fell right off the nipple on the filter. Here are a few pics for those who are as befuddled about this as I was. First of all, the small skid plate on the passenger side has to come off. Then you can see the filter. This is the filter with one side disconnected. Note I am holding my finger over the end. The fuel line is pressurized, and gas comes squirting out when the line is first disconnected. Have a drain pan ready. I wasn't sure how much gas I was going to lose (it came out pretty strong) and I was nervous at first to find out, but it's not too much--maybe 8 ounces of fuel--but then the pressure dies and it stops squirting. These next two pics show the button. It's the rectangular shape at the end of the connector. Once you know where it is, it actually presses in fairly easily. Here is the new filter in place. The connectors just snap right onto the nipple ends of the filter. Tighten up the band screw, replace the skid plate, and that's it! The car stumbled a little getting started, but that's probably because the filter needed to fill with gas and the line re-pressurize. Now I will have clean(er) fuel. __________________ ***************** Lots 'o problems; my sig got too long. *****************

08-09-2005, 07:49 PM	#2
MarTT Member Account #: 20368 Join Date: May 2001 Location: Fishers, Indiana Posts: 4,479	Congrats - nice write up! __________________ Fotki Album \| Indy Audi Club \| TT Forum FAQ \| My Blog \| Pic of my TT

08-09-2005, 08:06 PM	#3
chicago_audi_dude New Member Account #: 92132 Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 490	Nice! What made you diagnose the problem as the fuel filter? __________________

08-09-2005, 08:10 PM	#4
SparTTan Member Account #: 21363 Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 4,236	No problem necessarily--but I have over 100K miles. Even though the fuel filter replacement is not part of the regular maintenance schedule, I have a tough time accepting a "lifetime" service interval for any filter. Aren't filters supposed to trap dirt and things that shouldn't make it into the engine? Logic tells me that, eventually, that filter will become clogged. The filters are cheap, and I figured it is good "preventative maintenance." __________________ ***************** Lots 'o problems; my sig got too long. *****************

08-09-2005, 08:29 PM	#5
JustAdam AudiWorld Super User Account #: 79473 Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 10,030	Where were you on Mod day '05? __________________ ------------------------------------ - "A free society is a place where it's safe to be unpopular." 'Adlai Stevenson - I said goodbye to Audi, then I said goodbye to BMW - now I have a daily driver named Civic and now all I want to do is ride my motorcycle! Check out my StraightFocus.com website - with a link to my blog and another to my photo album on Picasaweb!

08-09-2005, 08:31 PM	#6
chicago_audi_dude New Member Account #: 92132 Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 490	Stuck with the girlfriend..when is the next one?? __________________

08-09-2005, 09:24 PM	#7
JustAdam AudiWorld Super User Account #: 79473 Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 10,030	Tomorrow @ my house in Elgin - lol Really I am just doing a BBK and hopefully seats if they get here! But really, you should stay in touch, we try to have a mod day for all the TT's as much as needed, want to do anything to your car? __________________ ------------------------------------ - "A free society is a place where it's safe to be unpopular." 'Adlai Stevenson - I said goodbye to Audi, then I said goodbye to BMW - now I have a daily driver named Civic and now all I want to do is ride my motorcycle! Check out my StraightFocus.com website - with a link to my blog and another to my photo album on Picasaweb!

08-10-2005, 06:46 AM	#8
RoberTT-WWCD Senior Member Account #: 1255 Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 8,094	I had mine replaced at my 70K service. __________________ Cheers, Robert - Kingsport, TN USA 100K Club member since 02-07-2007 All mods are listed here: Ye ol' Fotki stuff Got a Question? Get an answer at the FAQs thread! 2008 TT-East Autocross Director 2007 TT-East GBE director and Attendee 2006 TT-East GBE director and Attendee 2006 TT-West Attendee 180 MOFO Testing Team Beer: Helping ugly people have sex since 3000 B.C. -W.C. Fields

12-28-2005, 11:52 AM	#9
gfbemc New Member Account #: 72171 Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 3	Re: Pesky fuel filter replacement -- SUCCESS! Thanks for the pictures, but the plastic fittings on the 2001 Audi tt Quattro I tried to replace the filter on do not look like your plastic fittings. I will have to photograph mine to explain better, but they are definitely not like yours and I can not disconnect the lines.

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