Im having trouble replacing the fuel filter on my 98 cavalier 2.2l. The problem is I cant seem to get the quick connect fitting off the line that goes from the tank to the filter. I do have the special tool to get it to release, but when I tried 2 of the 4 black tabs snapped off, and it just wont release. I'm a little confused on that also because I read somewhere that I can break the black tabs off because the new filter wont need that, but then I also read somewhere that If I break that I will need a new line put in. The haynes manual doesn't seem to provide much help either as it didn't even mention the need for a special tool. Any help would be greatly appriciated. Thanks.

all i can remember from when i did mine was that i was trying to pull the little green clip out through the side of the black part, and it ended up coming out through the top (pushing up). hopefully yours is the same peice as mine, otherwise i'll just look like an idiot...




GO PATS!!!

you dont need the clips theres a trick to taking it off but cutting it im just not sure how

Sometimes they are a big pain, keep going with the special tool. If you break the plastic insert I'm pretty sure you can get a new one at the auto parts store.





You can't outrun the radio.

The Redneck wrote:all i can remember from when i did mine was that i was trying to pull the little green clip out through the side of the black part, and it ended up coming out through the top (pushing up). hopefully yours is the same peice as mine, otherwise i'll just look like an idiot...

x2 so i guess we are both idiots
j

Well, I got it all done. I just broke off the black plastic thing and dug pieces out where it connects to filter, then I had to modify a tool to get the filter to pop off. I just took a utility knife and shaved off a little of the fitting removal tool untill it fit between the filter and the line. After a lot of pushing and pulling I finally got it to pop off. Unfortunatelly the car still shudders a bit, so I put in fuel line cleaner and hopefully that works. I allready went through about 3 bottles of dry gas, so im pretty sure it is not water in the line. Thanks for the help.

I had the same prob and cut the filter off right after the quick connect so I could get in there. I put a purolater filter on and the quick realease is WAY simpler and easy to take off. If you're just running cleaner through the tank I suggest sea-foam.