1998 Ford Escort Fuel system

DITCHBANK

MEMBER
1998 FORD ESCORT
4 CYL
FWD
MANUAL
150,000 MILES

I have a ’98 Ford Escort ZX2 with a fuel injected 2.0L 4cyl that just turned over 150,000 miles. The car has been great until recently, I have had to show it a lot of TLC the past couple of months. I want to replace the fuel filter, but I remember someone telling me to release the fuel pressure before changing the fuel filter. Everything I have found so far simply refers me to the owner’s manual to do this. My owner’s manual was stolen from the vehicle several years ago. Can anyone tell me how to release the fuel pressure and then reestablish it again when the new fuel filter is in? Any information is welcomed.

Friday, June 6th, 2008 AT 6:30 AM

3 Replies

BLACKOP555

MECHANIC
10,386 POSTS

Certainly can. Owners manual dont describe it much anyways.

Start the vehicle and while it is running you should pull a fuse for the fuel pump, if not you should disconnect the fuel pump shut off/inertia switch.

Then you should continue to crank it after it dies for say 20 seconds. Do this a few times with pauses inbetween.

Pressure should then be gone.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

+1

Friday, June 6th, 2008 AT 7:17 AM

DITCHBANK

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Thanks a bunch for the quick response. I followed the advice, removed the fuel filter with no problem and only lost what little fuel was in the filter.

FYI: for anyone who is replacing the fuel filter or pump on an Escort it would behoove you to run out to your local auto parts store and buy a $4.00 pack of fuel line installation clips before you remove the old ones. Mine crumbled in my hands and I had to search 4 parts stores before I found them. It turned a half hour job into a half day job...

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

+1

Monday, June 9th, 2008 AT 3:37 AM

BLACKOP555