How to Replace the Fuel Filter in Mercury Cars

The Mercury car fuel filter attaches to the fuel line and strains the fuel for any impurities. The fuel is then sent to the fuel injector before it flows into the engine. A clogged or faulty filter can cause dirt to get into the engine, which can cause some serious damage. Regular maintenance is required to keep your engine in good condition.

Under The Hood:

• How to Replace the Fuel Filter in a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer
• How to Replace the Fuel Filter on a Mercury Tracer
• How to Replace a Fuel Filter in a Mercury Villager
• How to Replace a Fuel Filter in a Mercury Cougar

 How to Replace the Fuel Filter in a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer

Park your Mountaineer in a well-ventilated area on even ground. Apply the parking brake for additional security. Relieve the fuel system pressure by unscrewing the fuel tank cap. Disconnect the negative battery cable.

Crawl underneath the vehicle from the driver's side. The fuel filter heat shield is located just below the seating area on the driver's side. Its metal casing surrounds the fuel line just in front of the gas tank. It has a window that allows you to see the fuel filter, which is a silver or black cylinder about 3 in. in diameter.

Remove the bolts on the fuel filter with an adjustable wrench. This will allow you to remove the heat shield. You should now have complete access to the filter.

Disengage the fuel filter from the fuel line by depressing the spring lock couplings on the release tabs. The filter should simply fall away from the fuel line when the couplings are pushed together with enough pressure. Remove the filter.

Align the new filter with the fuel line so that the arrow on the side of the filter points toward the front of the vehicle. Apply pressure to the filter and the fuel line until the quick release tabs are engaged. As you are pushing the filter and fuel line together, you should hear a click to let you know that it is secured. If you can pull the filter apart from the fuel line without pushing the spring lock couplings, the quick release tabs are not engaged and the filter is not secured.

Reconnect the heat shield. Reconnect the negative battery cable and tighten the gas tank cap.

 How to Replace the Fuel Filter on a Mercury Tracer

Removal

Deactivate the fuel inertia switch while the engine runs, inserting a screwdriver into the switch's slot to pry up its red button. Wait for the engine to stall, relieving the fuel pressure.

Place a gas can on the ground below the fuel filter, which is near the firewall in the engine compartment. Fuel will spill out when you disconnect the filter.

Disconnect the hairpin clip from the upper fuel line's connector and then push the fuel line hose from the fitting.

Loosen the clamp on the fuel filter with a screwdriver.

Raise the Tracer's front end with a floor jack and support it on jack stands.

Disconnect the hose at the bottom of the fuel filter, removing its hairpin clip like the earlier one.

Lift and remove the filter from the car.

Install the replacement fuel filter within its bracket and clamp, tightening the clamp.

Connect both the lower and upper fuel line hoses to the filter using the hairpin clips.

Lower the car off the jack stands using the floor jack.

Push the red button on the fuel pump inertia switch, re-activating the fuel pump and pressurizing the fuel system.

 How to Replace a Fuel Filter in a Mercury Villager

Relieve the pressure in the fuel system by first removing the engine compartment relay panel cover on the left side. Then, remove the fuel pump relay from the relay pane and start the engine. Let it idle until it stalls, and then crank the engine for about 5 seconds to make sure the pressure was released. Turn the ignition off.

Disconnect the negative battery cable. Raise and support the Mercury Villager. Remove the fuel hose clamps, and then disconnect and plug the hoses to prevent them from leaking fuel. Take the fuel filter out of the bracket.

Install the new filter in the bracket with the arrow pointing toward the engine, in direction that fuel flows through the system. Connect the fuel hoses to the new filter. Put on the hose clamps and tighten them. Make sure they are properly tightened so there are no fuel leaks, and that pressure is maintained at about 36 in-lbs.

Lower the vehicle and reconnect the negative battery cable. Start the engine of your Mercury Villager, and check for leaks. Make repairs if necessary.

 How to Replace a Fuel Filter in a Mercury Cougar

Disconnect the negative battery cable, then remove the engine air cleaner assembly. Relieve pressure in the fuel tank by loosening the fuel tank cap. Connect the pressure gauge to the fuel pressure relief valve, which is on the fuel rail.

Open the manual valve on the pressure gauge. Drain the fuel into a container. Remove the fuel pressure gauge, but keep the container handy when removing the fuel lines so you can catch any fuel that might spill out.

Locate the fuel filter, which is underneath the vehicle near the fuel tank. Remove the retainer clips at both ends of the filter. Disconnect the fuel lines from the filter and then take out the filter.

Install the new filter with the arrow pointing in the same direction that the fuel flows through the system. Connect the new retainer clips onto the fuel fittings and then place the fuel lines on the proper ends of the new filter. Be sure you hear a click when sliding them into place, and check that the fuel lines are secure by trying to pull them off.

Reinstall the engine air cleaner assembly. Tighten the fuel tank cap. Reconnect the negative battery cable. Finally, start your Mercury Cougar to check for leaks.