Thought this job was gonna be a snap but as per usual looks to be the cars first fuel filter replacement for a long time, rust everywhere and what I have read so far doesnt seem to budge the fuel pipes at either end of the fuel filter.

Car is a Skoda Fabia 2002 1.4 DOHC 16V number.

Any chance someone has done this simple job can give us a heads up about the requirements to loosen off each of these type of fuel filter fittings?

Yep, i've changed a few. Iirc...

They have a small torx screw holding a plastic cover up and in place, this was a philips screw on mine.

The clips come off if you squeeze the sides and pull. Sometimes they break and dont click back in well, this happend on mine so i had to Push them back in and cable tie them to stop them popping off.

Its an easy enough job just made harder when your trying not to break 10 year old clips. Good luck.

Yep, i've changed a few. Iirc...

They have a small torx screw holding a plastic cover up and in place, this was a philips screw on mine.

The clips come off if you squeeze the sides and pull. Sometimes they break and dont click back in well, this happend on mine so i had to Push them back in and cable tie them to stop them popping off.

Its an easy enough job just made harder when your trying not to break 10 year old clips. Good luck.

Great! I've bought a new filter (comes with new seals) from VW, then bought a new regulator from ebay (comes with new seals!) as the original one looks very rusty, then bought a new retainer from VW - so now, it looks like I will need to buy some replacement clips from VW as they do seem to be available separately - and probably for a very good reason!!

The Philips head screw disintegrated as soon as I touched it, you just squeeze the blue sections and pull. I had to cut the plastic strap but did it at the bottom so the fuel filter is still held securely.

The Philips head screw disintegrated as soon as I touched it, you just squeeze the blue sections and pull. I had to cut the plastic strap but did it at the bottom so the fuel filter is still held securely.

Oh no, even worse news! When I replaced the petrol filter on my B5 Passat V6, I found that the plastic clamp was closed by a screw - which had a captive nut -which turned because the nut/screw were rusted up badly after 10+ years of winter salt etc. Interestingly, the plastic clamp was part of the petrol tank - nice! Anyway, managed to get it out, replaced with a stainless steel screw and nut - but, less than 3 years later, fuel started spraying out of filter area - extreme corrosion on the face of the filter - right across the copper seal face, so once again new filter, seals and banjo fittings just in case! Maybe lesson learned, ie always spray these areas with waxoil like stuff to protect them from salt etc.

Edited 22 December, 201213 yr by rum4mo

Interesting, I'm pretty sure the housing is alloy on my filter, therefore it shouldn't rust?

Interesting, I'm pretty sure the housing is alloy on my filter, therefore it shouldn't rust?

You are correct, its aluminium alloy, but that stuff does not like salts any more than steel. Have you never wondered why alloy wheels soon get nasty looking, especially in winter.

Alloy wheels look crap due to the paint flaking, moisture gets under the lacquer and causes them to turn white/flake, they don't rust, neither will the casing on your fuel filter.