yo_mom_caught

Hi Folks,

I just recently replaced the fuel filter on my 2000 a4 quattro and thought I'd share the what I did to hopefully help make it easier for the next folks that are doing it.

Generally, I followed
<a href="https://www.audiworld.com/tech/eng49.shtml">
Mike Stanley's tech article
</a> (thanks Mike!)
with one difference. I didn't want to loosen the fuel tank bolts, and lower part of the fuel tank to get to the bolt holding filter (fear or stripping the fuel tank bolts, not being able to get them back on, etc) So here's what I did.

Disclaimer: I have small hands, so it might not work for you. I'm not seasoned mechanic at this, unlike several folks on this forum, so I'm sure there's several different ways of doing this too..But this worked for me. Also, it probably takes longer than just lowering one side of the fuel tank, but I didn't want to move mine, so I didn't mind taking the extra time.

0)Remove the clip holding the two fuel lines together near the fuel filter.

1)Remove the fuel filter bolt.

The tool for the fuel filter bolt....

First off, the bolt holding the fuel filter requires 8mm 12pt bit (also called a triple square bit). Good luck finding these at your local auto store, or parts store. I bought one from <a href="http://www.jcsonlinetoolshed.com">www.jcsonlinetoolshed.c om</a>

Second, you won't have much clearance to get to the bolt. You have about 1 inch of space between the bolt and the sidewall where you can still a wrench into if you don't lower part of your fuel tank.

What I did was that I basically took the 8mm 12pt bit that was about 2 inches long, and cut it with a dremel down to about .4"inches, leaving just enough for a wrench to grip the bit.....


<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/79673/145-4592_img.jpg" />

Then I wrapped some tape around the drill bit and shoved it into a small 5/16 in craftsman wrench. The wrench is thin, about 1/4"inch, but not long enough to reach the bolt. So then I taped a thin screwdriver to the wrench assembly, yielding the following...

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/79673/145-4594_img.jpg" />

Getto..yes... but it worked for me. Now, my bolt wasn't on that tight, so I got away with using masking tape to bind the screwdriver together with the wrench (I know, ghetto), but it worked...


Test to see you can reach the bolt, and have a sufficient sturdy tool to remove it. Start to loosen the bolt until you can wiggle the fuel filter down about 1/4". Without diconnecting the lower bajo bolt, you can wiggle the fuel filter down about 1/4".

2) Now ***try*** to loosen the lower banjo bolt.

You'll need a thin wrench that can fit the small hex nut that is part of fuel filter bottom to prevent the fuel filter from turning as you loosen the lower banjo bolt. Alternatively, If you weren't fortunate enough to find such a thin wrench like me, use the trusty c-clamp vise-grip you can get at a hardware store to hold the filter as you loosen the lower banjo bolt.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/79673/145-4556_img.jpg" />

Once the lower banjo bolt is off, you can slowly wiggle the fuel filter down and out.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/79673/145-4557_img.jpg" />

odelay12v

How long did it take you ? how many miles and what year is your a4?

yo_mom_caught

I had 40k miles on it. Took me 2hrs, minus getting the parts and tools.