Saab fuel filter...not so quick connect fittings

[Rannsachair]

I found my fuel filter was leaking on my 2005 9-5 Aero, managed to pick up a new filter locally and now scratching my head a bit...

fuel filter:

so first I tried making up collets on the lathe and using screwdrivers levering against them - no luck and kept getting them jammed:

So ordered these - not enough space to fit the right size so ground it down - does not move - plastic deforms.

Have now ordered: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272557864977?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Hope this will work, expect again will need ground down to fit..anyone had any luck with these fittings?

 

[msmbus2000]

i have a saab 95 2.0t est...same filter....i feel your pain i to ordered those tools....no use.
two flat head screw drivers...got my one apart

 

[Rannsachair]

i have a saab 95 2.0t est...same filter....i feel your pain i to ordered those tools....no use.
two flat head screw drivers...got my one apart

Thanks, did you bend the ends to fit in behind the fitting, or just lever the fittings off with force?

 

[Swift&Bold]

I use a tool identical to the one you've just ordered, you'll find it probably doesn't fit BUT if you cut one of the shoulders down it will, I used a Dremel to shorten just one shoulder. There is a specific, Saab tool for it but it's 20 quid for a bit of red plastic.

 

[msmbus2000]

no i just poked around and moved the fitting about until one side of the fitting came away then pulled it hard of the filter... just be careful as filter is under pressure you dont get fuel in your eyes

 

[msmbus2000]

mine was the original filter from 2006 lol rusty and fun to get off...

 

[Swift&Bold]

...also I found that the filter had literally fused itself to the fitting inside the couplings due to galvanic corrosion and had to just twist it off, breaking the ends off the filter. I got them out with penetrating fluid and a Easy-Out in the end.

 

[msmbus2000]

i sprayed mine with plus gas before starting the service and did fuel filter at the end to give it a change to work.... they are a nitemare of a fitting

 

[Rannsachair]

no i just poked around and moved the fitting about until one side of the fitting came away then pulled it hard of the filter... just be careful as filter is under pressure you dont get fuel in your eyes

There is a rusty crack in the side of my filter behind the retaining clamp, I have pulled the pump fuse, so pressure should not be an issue. I suspect it is the original filter, supposed to change it every 60k, despite a full service history when I got it 3 years ago.

 

[Swift&Bold]

... just be careful as filter is under pressure you dont get fuel in your eyes

Valid point, take out fuse 5 (fuel pump), start up and run it until it stops, the fuel lines will be empty and unpressurised then.
EDIT: Seen you've done it

 

[msmbus2000]

oh sounds like my service history.. very little seemed to have been changed

 

[ms08]

As above - spray with plenty of release fluid first. Bloody fiddly job. I bought and broke Saab's own special tool for extortionate money and use the broken end with some long nosed pliers. Took me three attempts to do it as i gave up twice

 

[Rannsachair]

Well, tool was a waste of time waiting on, quick connects were corroded onto the ends of the filter, so both ends of the filter snapped off in the quick connects. I tapped the broken parts fitted a bolt and levered them out, both quick connects ended up coming out wrecked with the ends of the filter!

Lucky the filter came with new plastic quick connect clips, a bit of pratting about adding o-rings behind the clips sorted initial leaks. What should have been a 15 minute job has taken hours.......

 

[Swift&Bold]

That's what happened to mine but I cleaned it up, refitted the O-rings and spring retainers and it's fine, no leaks at all, I also used petroleum jelly on the fittings to reduce the galvanic reaction.

 

[Swift&Bold]

Mine looked like this: