Saturn ION RedLine Forums banner
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

Fuel Filter Change (With Pictures)

Jump to Latest
178K views 93 replies 49 participants last post by  Aberja  
#1 · (Edited)
How to change the LSJ Fuel Filter


Parts Needed:

- New Fuel Filter (AC Delco Part Number GF824)
Image

- 3/8" Fuel Line Quick Disconnect Tool
Image

- 10mm socket & Ratchet
- A drain pan of some sort
- Safety Glasses


NOTE: A little bit of gas will get on you! It won't spray (after you depressurize the fuel system), but it'll trickle out from the filter & the gas lines. It's important to wear safety glasses (who wants gas in their eyes?) & also try and catch the gas in a drain pan of some sort. If you want....wear some rubber gloves if you don't wanna smell like gas all day.




1. First off, if you don't know where the fuel filter is....it's the small round canister under the rear suspension of the car towards the passenger rear wheel:
Image

Image


2. To release the fuel pressure, remove the kick panel & gain access to the fuse box.
Image


3. Remove the Fuel Pump fuse
Image

Image


4. Start the car & let it run until it dies.

5. Undo the gas cap
Image


6. Jack up the passenger side of the car to gain access under the rear of the passenger side & support it with a jack stand.

7. Locate the fuel filter
Image


8. Undo the 10mm bolt holding the fuel filter bracket
Image


9. There are two Quick Disconnect plugs on one end of the fuel filter....one is light blue & one is dark blue. Unlpug them both by squeezing (with your fingers) the colored sides & pulling off of the fuel filter & then aim them down towards the ground to drain into the drain pan you have.
Image

Image


10. Take the 3/8" Fuel Line quick disconnect tool & slide it onto the fuel line on the other side of the fuel filter
Image


11. Then insert it towards the filter to break the prongs free that are holding the filter onto the fuel line
Image


12. Give a nice, aggressive pull on the fuel filter for it to come freely off of the fuel line.....(it takes a good amount of force). Then remove the quick disconnect tool after the filter is off.
Image


13. Take your new fuel filter & slide it onto the fuel line....it'll snap/click when it's all the way on
Image


14. Attach the two light blue/dark blue quick connect lines onto the fuel filter....they slide & snap right on! They are different sizes (shown below), so you can't screw them up. But in case you forgot, the dark blue goes towards the body of the car & the light blue goes towards the ground.
Image

Image


15. Attach the 10mm bolt back into the frame that holds the fuel filter in
Image


16. You're all done with the fuel filter install
Image


17. Put the Fuel Pump fuse back in the fuse box & put the cover back on.
Image


18. Let the fuel pump prime itself & start the car & it'll be good to go!!!



The reason why you should change your fuel filter (this is after 15 months & 19,300 miles):
Image
 
#6 ·
Skythe said:
What is the cost for fuel filter and accessories? Is there any specific brand of fuel filter that is preferred than the stock one?
Click to expand...
&
Mattman6 said:
Great write, also how much all this cost? Fuel filter and the tool to remove the thing
Click to expand...

My new fuel filter was $10 on ebay...I got lucky & that's what motivated me to change it ($16 SHIPPED)....one time deal

BUT the AC Delco (GF824) fuel filter is $34.99 from Crateenginedepot.com:
http://www.crateenginedepot.com/store/Cobalt-20-LSJ-Fuel-Filter-22734980-P1675C193.aspx

My local auto parts store (Murray's) didn't stock it & wanted $44.99 and said they could have it the next day....so it's kind of pricey actually.

The little tools are $5-10 at ANY major auto parts store (but I already had them)....if you tell them you need the 3/8" fuel line tool....they'll know what you're talking about!

And that's all you need to change it


As for brand...I would stick with the AC Delco as I think that might be the only one available (according to Murray's Auto).
Fram (which I personally hate & wouldn't recommend) doesn't even offer one for our car and they usually have everything...so AC Delco FTW
 
E
#7 ·
snobrdrdan said:
....if you tell them you need the 3/8" fuel line tool....they'll know what you're talking about!
Click to expand...
Yeah except the employees at the advance auto by my house (only auto shop by me) are idiots. Half of them don't speak English and cater more towards the ricer community. It took me 10 minutes to get one guy to help me find a bottle of octane booster (the highlighter orange bottle, stp i think) because they can't keep anything in order! [/END RANT]
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#94 ·
Yeah, so the guys getting paid very little at these franchise parts stores are not exactly highly motivated to tip their hats & defer to your obviously superior awesomeness, and a lot of them are not overly intelligent or knowledgeable about cars...but are they mechanics? Are you paying them to to diagnose your problem or to step & fetch your requested item with the alacrity that you are entitled to on the basis of your lofty station? What settles this for me is your reference to their Engish skills (and how many languages do you speak, my genius American friend?) and your comment about the "ricer community." What do we call your community, the typical white-man-having-to-deal-with-inferior-beings community? Ain't easy being you, is it?
 
#10 ·
ESV0720 said:
Yeah except the employees at the advance auto by my house (only auto shop by me) are idiots. Half of them don't speak English and cater more towards the ricer community. It took me 10 minutes to get one guy to help me find a bottle of octane booster (the highlighter orange bottle, stp i think) because they can't keep anything in order! [/END RANT]
Click to expand...
its funny how you said they cater to the ricers, and you yourself was buying octane boost lol
 
#12 · (Edited)
snobrdrdan said:
As for brand...I would stick with the AC Delco as I think that might be the only one available (according to Murray's Auto).
Fram (which I personally hate & wouldn't recommend) doesn't even offer one for our car and they usually have everything...so AC Delco FTW
Click to expand...
There are two other brands available, Champ (cheapy $9 filter) and another generic brand (filter master or something - $15). Both available at Autozone.

The person I talked to said the Champ was better quality, but idk. I'll find out soon enough I guess.
 
#16 ·
scooterc14 said:
My friend and I changed my fuel filter at 25400 and it was kinda nasty. It wasn't like the picture but it was close. I was gonna wait another 3000 but glad I didn't.The only thing I didn't like was the fule filter I ended up at saturn for it and paid like $45.
Click to expand...
Yeah the Delco one is NOT a cheap filter....they'll rape you at the dealer of course

CED.com has it for $37.25 + shipping
 
#18 ·
snobrdrdan said:
Well now....those are A LOT cheaper than the Delco filter.....I would just change it more frequently (once a year probably) though since it's a cheaper brand
Click to expand...
I plan on changing mine every 10k.
 
#23 ·
Amen on the Safety Glasses note in the write up...A Saturn tech works part time at the hobby shop I used, and he told me not to not to run the car till it dies after I pulled the fuse. I took a Gasoline shower. I think he may have been fuckin with me. Great write up though. I'm a mechanical retard and this only took me a couple minutes.
 
Saturn ION RedLine Forums
posts
1M
members
19K
Since
2003
A forum community dedicated to Saturn ION RedLine owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about reviews, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Performance Modifications General Discussions ION Redline Discussions Buy/Sell Parts Problems & Troubleshooting