2007 Ford Focus not running after fuel filter replacement

Tiny
JJTHAUT
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  • 2007 FORD FOCUS
The car was running fine before I replaced fuel filter. To do the service, I removed the fuse from under the hood, started the car 3 times until stall. Afterwards, when turning the key to the on position,

The same day I changed the front calipers, pads and rotors, bleeding the calipers.

I broke the clip that holds the fuel line inlet to the filter and replaced it with a clip from a parts store. I used a Wix filter.
Sunday, April 22nd, 2012 AT 3:26 AM

9 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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The above description of your problem was cut off can you please explain it again?
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Sunday, April 22nd, 2012 AT 4:06 AM
Tiny
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Car was running fine. I thought it would be a good idea to change the fuel filter. I removed the 15 amp fuse under the hood and started the car 3 times until it stalled. I changed the filter, connected the lines, put the fuse back in and turned the key to the on position to pressurize the fuel line. I did this a few times and now the fuel pump is much louder during it's start up routine. There is also a siginificantly louder hum coming from behind the radio when turning the key to the on position. The car starts ok and drives ok. But a much more noticeable hum from the back of the car is bothering me. What did I do wrong?
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Sunday, April 22nd, 2012 AT 1:57 PM
Tiny
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The hum in the fuel tank and behind the radio in the dash both go away after a few seconds, but they're so much louder. The hum in the dash lasts longer than the fuel tank.
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Sunday, April 22nd, 2012 AT 1:58 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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If it starts and runs good sounds like the lines to the fuel filter are on correctly. The arrow on the fuel filter is facing the front of the car?
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Sunday, April 22nd, 2012 AT 4:18 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Did you use a wix 33595 filter?The only thing I see you may have mixed up on the filter is the direction of its flow. There is only two nipples on the filter not much to mix up. As far as the extra noise that doesnt make a whole lot of sense maybe the fuel pump noise could change a little but the fuel pump relay itself should stay the same. Was the old filter pretty restricted/clogged up?
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Sunday, April 22nd, 2012 AT 4:44 PM
Tiny
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The arrow on the filter body is pointing in the correct direction. I did use a wix 33595.

The old filter did not seem clogged at all. I first removed the outlet end and the gas that came out of the filter was clear and colorless.
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Sunday, April 22nd, 2012 AT 7:57 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Have you tried putting the old filter back in to see what happens?
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Sunday, April 22nd, 2012 AT 9:57 PM
Tiny
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Interesting. It would be nice to try to see what happens, but will not be doing so. The clip that holds the inlet from the gas tank to the filter body is in a terrible spot for someone working on the ground and on their back. I dont know how the youtube people did this, but I had to break the clip to detach from the filter body. I dont know what the force does to the line. I dont want to see anything damaged further.

While taking the car for a drive this afternoon, the noise in the fuel tank is the same louder volume, but was shorter in duration. I have now put about 20 miles on the car since the new filter and I dont see anything leaking. I have only checked while starting the car on the driveway.

It seems over a few short trips the fuel filter is still priming itself? The significantly louder noise is still unsettling to hear.
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Sunday, April 22nd, 2012 AT 11:47 PM
Tiny
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I just dont see why replacing the filter would be causing your issues with the noises its a simple filter with just two lines going to it not a whole lot to go wrong installing it. Thats why I suggesting trying to put the old filter back in to see if the noise goes away. The only thing that makes sense for the fuel pump noise anyways is maybe a defective fuel filter. You can try hooking up a fuel pressure gauge to see if the fuel pressure is bleeding down.
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Monday, April 23rd, 2012 AT 3:55 AM

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