Just thought I'd post some points regarding changing a fuel filter. I've seen a few posts regarding the merits of changing or not but I'd like to stay away from all that and just pass along some pointers. I recently purchased a 2003 Grand Caravan ES with a 3.8L and am in the process of completing several maintenance items as I do not know the previous history of them being accomplished. I had the tranny flushed and filled at a garage and decided I'd replace the fuel filter myself as there was 154,000km on van and a little bit of a stagger when coming to a near stop then accelerating again. Also at steady lower rpm's, around 1500, the tach, and engine noise, would vary up and down occasionally about 100 rpm. :ask_wsign
The filter was mounted above the tank on the inboard side and is almost accessible without lowering the tank. It has three lines with two going to tank and 1 going forward to engine. You will need to lower the inboard side of the tank so I backed the van up on a set of wheel ramps, chocked front wheels, then removed three bolts holding tank straps. Two on inboard side and one at front. This allowed the one side of the tank to be lowered a few inches onto a couple of pieces of wood for support. There was now enough access to remove the bolt holding the filter to the tank and pinch the locking tabs and remove the lines from the top of the tank. The forward connection is accessible without removing tank. I'd suggest lubing up the removed bolts and fasteners as mine were fairly rusty but did come out OK. I also sprayed above the tank with RustCheck spray prior to re-installing it. Also, have a length of wire and crimp type connectors as the ground strap from my filter to the tank strap was corroded and broke. The whole job took less than an hour. :thumb:
The filter was purchased from AutoZone for about $25 and has a metal canister. The removed filter was plastic.
The filter was mounted above the tank on the inboard side and is almost accessible without lowering the tank. It has three lines with two going to tank and 1 going forward to engine. You will need to lower the inboard side of the tank so I backed the van up on a set of wheel ramps, chocked front wheels, then removed three bolts holding tank straps. Two on inboard side and one at front. This allowed the one side of the tank to be lowered a few inches onto a couple of pieces of wood for support. There was now enough access to remove the bolt holding the filter to the tank and pinch the locking tabs and remove the lines from the top of the tank. The forward connection is accessible without removing tank. I'd suggest lubing up the removed bolts and fasteners as mine were fairly rusty but did come out OK. I also sprayed above the tank with RustCheck spray prior to re-installing it. Also, have a length of wire and crimp type connectors as the ground strap from my filter to the tank strap was corroded and broke. The whole job took less than an hour. :thumb:
The filter was purchased from AutoZone for about $25 and has a metal canister. The removed filter was plastic.