KenSpeC

iTrader: (16)

I just experienced for the first time the most tedious task of replacing the fuel filter in my FD.The whole time between swearing, hand cramps, and a late 94 octane fruit punch, i just wanted to meet the team that decided that this was a great place to put the filter and give them a kick in the sack....holy....lol ..:




Im going to relocate the filter to a more accessible location in the morning.

Im thinking around this area:


Ill post pics once im done

End rant

BenjiRX-7

iTrader: (3)

I changed mine without too much problem. I squeezed the inlet rubber pipe with a vice grip so the octane punch really wasnt too bad.

other than that, having skinny arms and small fingers helps :P
don't forget to remove the vicegrip though, because you will be FREAKING OUT when your car wont start (yeah, I know )

You can relocate the filter on the subframe for easier acces. Search a little in the 3rd gen section, there was a post earlier today or yesterday with pics.
EDIT: here I dug it up for you https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/changed-fuel-filter-today-check-out-827434/

Buggy

iTrader: (8)

Welcome to the automotive repair world! It doesn't matter what car you buy, you'll run into things like that where you feel like kicking the engineers in the sack. Some vehicles are WAY worse than that. I can also tell you what the engineers were thinking....as long as it fits together on the assembly line and doesn't break until it's off of warranty.....who gives a ****. Oh and it also has to be cheap to produce because they are given a budget to build a car in. It's little things like that where they tend to cut corners.

KenSpeC

iTrader: (16)

yeah I saw that thread among numerous others when i was doing my research. Thanks for the heads up tho

JDK

iTrader: (8)

LOL....you went about it the wrong way, you need to remove the bolts on the clamps first leaving the filter hanger bolted to the underbody, this allows the filter to hange down, then you can re&re the hoses and filter much easier.
But still a nasty job and i do agree it was a bad place to put the filter...

londonmazda

iTrader: (2)

haha, you guys would hate VW... B5 passat/a4 you have to drop the tank a few inches to get it out.

KenSpeC

iTrader: (16)

Hahah jim, i did that, i dunno if you can see it from the pics, but during that time i made up my mind to relocate it.

Its going to be lower than the stock location, that shouldnt be an issue should it?

The Juggernaut

That's nothing. To change a timing belt on an A4 you have to disassemble the whole front of the car or pull the engine.

The best engineered cars for mechanics have got to be Volvos - everything seems to have been located with removal in mind. BMWs are not far off, especially because they never put their engines crooked into the cars, they always go straight ahead and drive the right wheels.

KenSpeC

iTrader: (16)

all done!!

Found a loose roof rack footing and decided to use it as a bracket:




Buttoned up:


While at it, decided to install a supra tt fp i got from Jim. I was advised to not use the oem buel fitting as it is prone to leak so ill have to redo it in the future (thanks Jim)



stock vs. supra fp


When i tear into it again, hopefully i can rewire my FP to get better voltage.....

londonmazda

iTrader: (2)

I worked at a vw service shop and sure you have to take it apart, but theyve made taking the front of VW/Audi's the easiest thing.

Terrh

iTrader: (7)

I have a dead MKII GTi sitting in my driveway for the last 2 months because nobody (even 2 vw mechanics that have came over) can figure out how the hell to get it to start.

so I'm not the biggest fan of them. I'll change an FD fuel filter for someone if they get my POS car running.

also, don't ever work on a 300zx. Or have to service the attessa pump on a skyline. Because they're both terrible. Right up there with FD plug wires and fuel filters for sure.

B6T

iTrader: (2)

I'm going to play devil's advocate for this one: The reason it's mounted so high is probably for safety, not because they don't know what they are doing or because they are trying to make servicing the car hell. You can't argue that the higher up it is, the less likely road debris can hit it and sever or damage the lines. You have to remember that there is also a very hot exhaust system sharing the same area, and if a fuel line were damaged and fuel found its way onto the exhaust pipe, the whole car could go up in smoke. The engineers know that it will be hard to service in that location, but they can justify putting it there because they will also devised a service procedure in which their factory trained technicians (read: not us guys on the driveway) will receive training to perform.

These same guys probably started designing the FD nearly 20 years ago, and to this day it is still one of the best handling cars ever. I don't question their thinking

Sorry for ranting... I'm bored

KenSpeC

iTrader: (16)

I thought of that too, but theres other more accessible areas that are in the same height location and away from the exhaust system, im sure anywhere but above the diff would have been welcomed.

I do agree that despite its age, the handling of this car is simply awesome. But with anything theres just things that should have been better designed/placed..for ex. the rats nest on top of the motor....heat + age + hoses....im sure you know where im getting at

rd_turbo

iTrader: (4)

It takes all kinds of individuals to come up with a vehicle or a new platform, not just engineers. Engineers do not always get their way in terms of product design and recommendations. Purchasing, Quality, Sales, Manufacturing, Program Management all get hot and horny when it comes to cost and timing so everybody has a say and the 'squeaky wheel' adage applies. As was mentioned above, there are many examples that make you scratch your head....one of the worst that I've heard of would have to be doing an alternanor on a GM W-body platform of the 90s.

I agree with you on the rat's nest and its location, but my primary beef with it is its unnecessarily convoluted design.

mr.zoom

iTrader: (1)

There are times that we are directed to use common parts to save cost. i.e. this fuel filter is the same in the miata.....

"use this part and make it fit"

flipstar

iTrader: (14)

I replaced the fuel filter in my 2nd gen last year and to be honest it was a bitch at best. I understand your woes with the location of the filter, but the process itself is just awful, regardless of where the filter is.

Obvioulsy my filter was never replaced in the entire life of the car as the rubber hoses had basically fused into the metal nipples. Suffice to say it wasn't easy getting them off and once I did, I got a nice facefull of gasoline. MMmm mmm carbs.

Whats worse was the car was rustproofed with that nasty black ****. Turns out gas dissolves it really well. Basically the entire area covered in black stuff where the filter was melted off of the car and onto my skin. Then the more volitile gasoline just evaporated leaving EXTREMELY sticky crap that didn't come off for days.

****

KenSpeC

iTrader: (16)

Glad i could help in letting people vent...lol. Well maybe what Jim said about the o-ring failing was stuck to the back of my head and during my morning drive i had the nagging feeling to just modify the factory bugle connection and be done with it.....

That and i had to get my mind off my fresh root canal and the immense pain i was in


mini pipe cutter:



The plastic fittings and o-ring inside the bugle fitting...



point of no return...left enough just in case i had to go back (doubt it)


all done...


a little added bracing

JDK

iTrader: (8)

Nice work Ken, you now have a problem free fuel pump update/ install.