I am trying to change my fuel filter in a 88 T/A. To do so, I must eliminate the fuel pressure by pulling the fuse which controls the fuel pump and running the engine until the fuel runs out. I did this, started the car but kept running for 20 minutes+ (although poorly). I double checked the fuse to make sure it was the right one for the pump and it checked out. The fuel doesn't seem to run out, what now? Am I missing something?

 

Try opening the gas cap and leaving it as such for a day.

 

first remove the gas cap. no need to wait a day. you will hear the pressure being relieved as you remove the cap. then proceed to remove your filter. there will be some pressurized gas. be careful while removing the old filter and install the new one. all done. very simple job. just a little messy.

 

Removing the gas cap will do nothing for the residual pressure in the feed line. The feed line is a closed system, with a check valve in the FP to prevent backflow, and capped by the FPR on the other end.

And you're right, disconnecting the fuel pump fuse won't do you any good, i don't know why you see that listed as the procedure so often. The only fuse that will completely disable the fuel pump will also disable the ECM, so that doesn't help you either.

Here is what you do. With thecar jacked up and on stands ready to do the fuel filter, look up in front of the gas tank and you should see a 3 wire weatherpak connector going into the floor. Disconnect that. Now start the car and run the pressure off, and yes this can take a couple minutes if it's just idling with no load.

 

Ed (or anyone else who can answer this as well),

could you also relieve the pressure by depressing the shraeder valve until the fuel stops squirting?

 

Yeah, but that would get pretty ugly. If you're doing a fuel filter, you already have the back of the car in the air anyway, so it's easier and much safer to just do it the way i described.

edit: last tip i forgot to mention earlier. For the first timers anyway. Be prepared to work fast when you take the filter off. Have all your wrenches ready, and be confident in what you're doing, which way the filter faces, etc. Fuel will be siphoning out of the line the whole time you have the line disconnected, so best to move quick. Easiest way is to break both lines free with the wrenches, and finger loosen 'em quick, and get the new one in, finger tight quick

 

I've never disconnected the fuel pump's power. Just take out the filter. There will be a little fuel coming out but just use a catch pan.
Thats it 10 min job and your done.