Focus fuel filter

Burnerman · 21 Apr 2011

Has anyone any bright ideas of removing the fuel filter on these - its stuck high up at the back of the tank, I cant get to it and the screw head has rounded off

I need to shift it - 80k miles and the original one....wonder why!
John

Peter.N. · 21 Apr 2011

If you can't do it John - I hold out little hope

MrTinker · 21 Apr 2011

These are an ar$e and a half!
The way I've done them in the past, is to carefully grind the head off with a small air powered belt sander, then one of two ways, either prise it apart and bend it out of the way so you can use a small set of vice grips to unscrew the rest of the self tapper(this is just doable but bloody tough going!!) or drill a new hole next to the old screw for the new self tapper, but there ain't much to drill into, enough to get a small self tapper to hold, but only just!
The very best of luck
Vic

Whitworth · 22 Apr 2011

John, not familiar with the position of the filter, but is there any way you could use a holesaw from inside the car (in boot or under back seat where it wouldn't affect the car cosmetically) to make an access hole to get to the screw? You could then plug the hole with a rubber blanking grommet after.
TTFN

MrTinker · 22 Apr 2011

Getting to the screw head with a screwey ain't the problem, it's when the head is rusted up and rounds off, thats when the fun starts because it's virtualy impossible to get anything else on it to remove the damaged screw.

Burnerman · 22 Apr 2011

Gents, I thank you for your comments - much appreciated

Its still an issue.....I can't get my fingers up there to release the fuel pipe clips as I can't depress them enough (one has no room to slide out anyway) so the filter has to come down somehow.....
Guess its out with the drill later.
PS I think the Focus is a great vehicle, but after snappy plugs, awful pollen filters and now this I'm getting a bit bored with them.....
Have a good break, everyone

John

Belle427 · 22 Apr 2011

it isnt that bad a job to drop the tank down which may be an easier option

Whitworth · 22 Apr 2011

http://www.jmldirect.com/Screw-Extractor-PS5616/

Anyone tried these?

Could you get in with a centre punch and knock it round?

Focus fuel filter

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