Where is the fuel filter located on a 2002 mercury cougar and how do you change it?

Answer 1

Assuming it's the same as the 1999, it's on the passenger side, towards the rear, near the rearjacking point. It's a metal cylinder, fatter than a Coke can. You disconnect the duel pump fuse (#14 I think -- see owner manual) with the engine running (to depressurize fuel system) until it stalls. Then, turn the engine over a couple of times to fully depressurize the fuel system. Then disconnect the negative battery terminal. Jack up the car. Pry out clips (make sure you have new clips with the fuel filter because they may break), and pull out the plastic fuel lines from the filter. Have a container and plenty of rags handy because about a pint of fuel may dribble out. Loosen the metal band enough to take out the old filter. Then put in the new filter in the same orientation, tighten band, install lines, clips, test that they can't come loose. Reconnect battery and fuel pump fuse. Move key to "Acc" a few times to allow the fuel pump to repressurize the system, then start the car. Check for fuel leaks. Done. Takes about 1-2 hours for a novice. Oh, and buy a Hanes manual for the Ford Contour (mostly the same car) because it tells you how to do all this.