routine work not so routine
 

Took on some pita jobs today -
replace fuel filter
change out oil filter base
change plugs
replace coolant overflow tank

spending a day on your back under the FD - priceless.

could you take any pictures of the fuel filter replacement...i need to do mine yet this year and i dont know wat i'm getting into. haha

if you cant thats ok to

sorry, didnt take any pix. But the job is a pain for sure, this is what I did:
Get the Mazda replacement filter (it fits in the clamp the best)
10mm ratcheting wrench small size to get up there
some short pliers (I used angled ones) to remove the spring clamps

Try and do it with as little gas in the tank as possible(I waited for my low fuel light to come on)
Remove the green fuel pressure relay (under hood)
run car till stalls
remove gas cap
Block wheels, jack up the back of the car put on stands
Remove the passenger side skid plate
Cry after finding the filter
Remove the two bolts that hold on the filter mounting clamp to the frame
Push back the two spring clamps to the filter using pliers (cover with rags, plug hoses as gas will leak out)
Remove the mounting clamp from the old filter, put on new one
Crawl back under and mount the filter
reconnect the hoses.
put skid plate back
replace relay, crank car till it starts (5 seconds for me)
check for leaks


This took me about an hour.

So you didn't have to drop the diff?

No, but you do get to hug it :icon_tup:. Fuel filter job takes me about 30 minutes now tops, once you do it once its becomes alot easier. I think the first time i did it took roughly 45 minutes. Also dont get gas in your arm pit, it BURNS!

Nope, you don't have to drop the diff to get to it. You might have a little more arm room if the driveshaft is unbolted.

I did my fuel filter a couple months back for the first time. And by first time, I mean for me and the car. I swear it was the original filter. I'm not going to lie, it kicked my ass. I could get to the bolts, got the clamps off and thought I was all set. However, the fuel hose hadn't been touched in so long, I could not muster up the leverage to get the hose off the filter. I'm only 5'6", so by the time I even touch the filter, I don't have much arm left. I wrestled that bastard for 25 minutes before Xavier, from the RX7 store, walked up and popped them of in 2 seconds. He's about 6'3", so his arms had all kinds of room. Using a lift is defiantly the easiest way, but still easy to do on jack stands.
Thank you to those who post their maintenance threads. I have learned a lot and saved myself a lot of struggles by reading them.

Don't do it while the diff is hot if you can avoid it. Just a suggestion. :o)

:rlaugh: