The fuel filter is a small cylinder located close to the fuel tank and attached to the fuel line right after it comes out of the tank. For those of you who do not know where the fuel tank is I suggest you stop reading right now and take your car to jiffy lube. For the rest of you continue reading. You should always be wearing protective gloves and safety glasses but this goes DOUBLE when working with fuel components! Let your car sit for a while to bleed off fuel pressure if it was run recently. I'd wait two hours to be sure. Or you can bleed off the pressure manually if you know how. To bleed off the fuel manually, unplug the fuel pump relay (located in the trunk for 2002 model) and then turn the car on for a few minutes. The car will die when the pressure in the lines gets too low. But you still have to be careful when taking out the fuel filter because there is still gasoline in the lines. If you have a lift then so much the better, if not then put the car on jack stands or ramps. Always use jack stands if you're using a jack, never trust a jack to hold a car up while you're under it! Disconnect the C clips on either end of the filter and remove the lines from the filter. The filter is most likely held in by a metal tab, at least it was on my 95. Bend that tab out of the way with plier and remove the filter. Install the new filter, bend the tab back and hook everything back up. Oh and make sure you install the filter in the right direction! For newer model mustangs you need to buy a plastic tool that slides along the fuel filter supply and receiving lines. You push the plastic ring down into the fuel line connection to release the fuel line from the fuel filter. After you push in the plastic ring and release the ball bearings in the fuel line you can pull off the fuel line from the fuel filter (repeat on both sides of the fuel filter). Be careful not to get fuel in your eyes or your ears when you pull of the fuel lines (it will burn very badly). Replace the old filter with a new one, pushing lines onto filter and replacing clamps. Plug fuel pump relay back in and crank up your car. As always I am not responsible for any injuries or damages you suffer while working on your vehicle.
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