Fuel Filter Replacement

[Opelmania]

I just replaced my fuel filter on my '98 2.0 yesterday after 143K. Apparantly it was the original filter and I'm glad I changed it. If you are up there in miles, let me give you advice and let someone else change it for you. I found this out the hard way. Let me explain.

There are plastic 90 degree compression fittings holding the fuel lines onto the fuel filter. Supposedly, you are supposed to be able to push in a little part on the connector and it will come off. Not so much if you have a lot of miles and the insides of the compression fitting are stuck onto the nipples on the fuel filter. These were stuck because of pitting on the filter. While attempting to remove the forward most fitting, the rear fitting broke at the elbow. I called a new mechanic I met (ex-VW dealer mechanic with own shop ) and he said I am pretty much screwed and need a new line from the sending unit to the filter. It is now 4:15 P.M. and the dealer is about 30 minutes away. Good thing the owner of my personal shop has fuel line in his toolbox. We popped the front side off and the guts stayed on the old filter. Put that one back together and it seemed like it snapped onto the new filter just fine. Vance clamped the new line on the broken line and gave it a test run. His rigging job worked just fine, but the original elbow was leaking. Vance redid that one just like the rear and all is well.

Moral of this story, if your fuel filter hasn't been changed and you are up there in miles, I would have someone else you trust change it that way if and when it breaks, they are the ones figuring out how to fix it.

[Smileybug]

My mechanic changed mine last year in my '99...91k on the original filter. Whew! My car was certainly happy after that.

[bimmer84]

Originally Posted by Opelmania

I just replaced my fuel filter on my '98 2.0 yesterday after 143K. Apparantly it was the original filter and I'm glad I changed it. If you are up there in miles, let me give you advice and let someone else change it for you. I found this out the hard way. Let me explain.

There are plastic 90 degree compression fittings holding the fuel lines onto the fuel filter. Supposedly, you are supposed to be able to push in a little part on the connector and it will come off. Not so much if you have a lot of miles and the insides of the compression fitting are stuck onto the nipples on the fuel filter. These were stuck because of pitting on the filter. While attempting to remove the forward most fitting, the rear fitting broke at the elbow. I called a new mechanic I met (ex-VW dealer mechanic with own shop ) and he said I am pretty much screwed and need a new line from the sending unit to the filter. It is now 4:15 P.M. and the dealer is about 30 minutes away. Good thing the owner of my personal shop has fuel line in his toolbox. We popped the front side off and the guts stayed on the old filter. Put that one back together and it seemed like it snapped onto the new filter just fine. Vance clamped the new line on the broken line and gave it a test run. His rigging job worked just fine, but the original elbow was leaking. Vance redid that one just like the rear and all is well.

Moral of this story, if your fuel filter hasn't been changed and you are up there in miles, I would have someone else you trust change it that way if and when it breaks, they are the ones figuring out how to fix it.

Thanks for posting. I got my shop manual out, read about how "easy" it is to replace the Beetle fuel filter, jacked the car up and then spent 30 minutes pushing and pulling and squeezing and rotating. Nothing. Came back inside. Searched the internet. Saw something posted in another forum about how easy this was to do. Went back out and squeezed some more. Nothing. What am I missing? Then I found your post.

You saved me from breaking it.

I am taking it to a mechanic. I hate to spend the money but I am fairly certain my next step is to break it and then I will need a tow plus the repair.

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Another option, buy all the potential parts which may need to be replaced, DIY, and return whatever you don't break!

[Wildkats]

Oh thank you! I was reading how everyone said this was so easy to do and was seriously considering doing it, but scared. I'm going to get someone else to do it for me!

[janitz]

TDI owners, keep in mind this applies to the gasoline engines, not the diesel engines.

Diesel engines should have their fuel filter replaced as part of regular maintenance, every 20,000 miles I believe. This filter is designed to be replaced frequently, so it actually is easy to replace and is located at the top of the engine compartment on the passenger side near the washer fluid.

[IndyTom]

Looks pretty easy in this video:

How to change the fuel filter on a 2003 Volkswagen Beetle. - YouTube

[janitz]

Does he have his jack stands sitting on grass?!?

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by janitz

Does he have his jack stands sitting on grass?!?

That way he won't scratch the bottom of the jack stand
Give the guy a break. He is Canadian.

[Blugg]

Originally Posted by janitz

TDI owners, keep in mind this applies to the gasoline engines, not the diesel engines.

Diesel engines should have their fuel filter replaced as part of regular maintenance, every 20,000 miles I believe. This filter is designed to be replaced frequently, so it actually is easy to replace and is located at the top of the engine compartment on the passenger side near the washer fluid.

Thanks for that, will get mine done on monday

Originally Posted by Opelmania

nipples

Originally Posted by bimmer84

pushing and pulling and squeezing and rotating

[Smileybug]

20,000 miles for the TDI as per the Bentley. Its often overlooked in the gassers. I'm good about maintenance on my cars, but it is something I forgot about on my NB. I had it replaced at the beginning of 2010 after almost 5 years and 35,000 miles of ownership. A '99 with 90,000 total miles on it still had the original fuel filter! And I've heard that a number of times around here.

[janitz]

Originally Posted by Blugg

Thanks for that, will get mine done on monday

Are you thinking of doing it yourself, or having it done?

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by janitz

Are you thinking of doing it yourself, or having it done?

He is a man so he is going to do it himself Besides I think he has a TDI which those Fuel filters are much easier to get to.

I am going to swap my Fuel Filter tomorrow just to see if I can do it. If anyone can break things it will be me .

[janitz]

Originally Posted by IndyTom

He is a man so he is going to do it himself Besides I think he has a TDI which those Fuel filters are much easier to get to.

I am going to swap my Fuel Filter tomorrow just to see if I can do it. If anyone can break things it will be me .

The reason I ask is that it's quite easy to leave the TDI in a state where it won't start if you don't have a vacuum pump to pull fuel into the filter and pull any air that might be in the system out of the fuel pump. I did that on my first filter change a few years ago, luckily I had the vacuum pump so it wasn't hard to fix.

There's a few videos kicking around of people doing a TDI filter change, but they're all on the Jetta. The Beetle is nearly the same, just in a tighter space.

[Blugg]

Originally Posted by IndyTom

He is a man so he is going to do it himself Besides I think he has a TDI which those Fuel filters are much easier to get to.

I am going to swap my Fuel Filter tomorrow just to see if I can do it. If anyone can break things it will be me .

Don't be daft, it's FREEZING here. It'll be going to the garage

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by Blugg

Don't be daft, it's FREEZING here. It'll be going to the garage

Where is your sense of Adventure?
I guess it is a bit more cozy to have tea and crumpets in the waiting room while some schmuck replaces your fuel filter.

[janitz]

Originally Posted by Blugg

Don't be daft, it's FREEZING here. It'll be going to the garage

It's 9 Celsius in London according to the BBC.

I just changed my filter a week ago and it was only 3 degrees outside when I was out there doing it. And it was windy.

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by janitz

It's 9 Celsius in London according to the BBC.

I just changed my filter a week ago and it was only 3 degrees outside when I was out there doing it. And it was windy.

That I would say is almost balmy weather. So no excuses Blugg. It's rainy and 49 degrees Fahrenheit here today in Indy. Actually above normal for this time of year.

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by IndyTom

It's rainy and 49 degrees Fahrenheit here today in Indy. Actually above normal for this time of year.

Shirt sleeve weather in Indy, this time of year, so, no excuses

Originally Posted by IndyTom

I am going to swap my Fuel Filter tomorrow just to see if I can do it.

Git 'er done!

[turboturbo]

If the fuel filter connections are the same ones as the engine compartment ones, they are very easy to take apart.