Fuel filter housing?

[mark49]

Would anyone know for definite if when the Fiat housing for the fuel filter is fitted it should have the three yellow dots brought into line?
I’ve had problems with a housing that was fitted and I’ve had a new one fitted at a Fiat garage and the three yellow dashes have been aligned which they were not on the faulty one.

 

[Two on Tour]

It's the torque setting that the top is tightened to that is important.
If your old filter housing was fitted with a new filter, the dots lining up was probably where the top was torqued to with the previous filter and the dots may not lineup when the top is torqued down for a new replacement filter inside.

 

[mark49]

I had it fitted by an independent who did not do anything to it,which I found strange, he was adamant that they come already set. I was led to believe it needed torque tightened at installation. Do Fiat send these out pre set. It started leaking fuel after 8 weeks.

 

[Two on Tour]

I had it fitted by an independent who did not do anything to it,which I found strange, he was adamant that they come already set. I was led to believe it needed torque tightened at installation. Do Fiat send these out pre set. It started leaking fuel after 8 weeks.

If the complete unit is new and supplied pre-fitted with the filter, then yes the top will have been torqued down to the correct setting.

 

[Two on Tour]

I change the fuel filter myself on our MH and use the correct tool for torquing down the top.
Even with using the correct tool and torque setting they still have a habit of leaking.
A lot of people prefer to buy a completely new unit rather than risk a leak by un-doing, replacing the filter, and re-fitting the top.

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[glenn2926]

I had it fitted by an independent who did not do anything to it,which I found strange, he was adamant that they come already set. I was led to believe it needed torque tightened at installation. Do Fiat send these out pre set. It started leaking fuel after 8 weeks.

I don’t see how it can come preset. To replace the filter the top is removed by unscrewing it. Remove old filter, replace with new filter and then screw the top back on to the correct torque.
Therefore the independent took the top off and refitted it. How he can then claim this is preset is just telling porky pies.

 

[mark49]

Does it not come with the filter already fitted ?

 

[Two on Tour]

I don’t see how it can come preset. To replace the filter the top is removed by unscrewing it. Remove old filter, replace with new filter and then screw the top back on to the correct torque.
Therefore the independent took the top off and refitted it. How he can then claim this is preset is just telling porky pies.

You can buy as most people do, a complete fuel filter housing with a pre-installed filter element.
Just un-clip the fuel in and fuel out connectors and the wiring plug, reverse the operation for the new all in one housing, so no need to touch the filter element inside the housing.

 

[mark49]

This was as fitted by the independent. 3 lines not aligned. Didn’t last long

 

[mark49]

As fitted by the Fiat garage. 3 lines in a row. Working fine.
There must be a point to the three lines.
They must align when the pressure is at the correct setting otherwise what’s the point to them?

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[mark49]

You can buy as most people do, a complete fuel filter housing with a pre-installed filter element.
Just un-clip the fuel in and fuel out connectors and the wiring plug, reverse the operation for the new all in one housing, so no need to touch the filter element inside the housing.

View attachment 576625

On the photo above the yellow spots are aligned.
How would I find out if this is the point of them?

 

[Two on Tour]

On the photo above the yellow spots are aligned.
How would I find out if this is the point of them?

When the housing is factory assembled, it will have been assembled on a jig to correctly aline the top and the lower part of the housing so when it is clipped onto its mounting in the engine bay the fuel in and fuel out connections are in the correct position for the fuel pipes. When the clamping ring is torqued to the correct setting, then the 3 lines are marked.
When installed in the engine bay, if any of the 3 marks are not in line then that is an indication that one or more or the 3 component part of the housing has moved.

If somebody like myself goes to change the filter element inside, then when I come to re-assemble I'm only interested in the top and bottom lines lining up so the fuel in and fuel out connections are in the correct position for the fuel pipes.
When I torque up the clamping ring I'm only interested in the correct torque setting being applied not where the middle line was originally as the new "O" ring seal may not be exactly the same as the old "O" ring seal causing the lines to not line up as they had before.

 

[glenn2926]

You can buy as most people do, a complete fuel filter housing with a pre-installed filter element.
Just un-clip the fuel in and fuel out connectors and the wiring plug, reverse the operation for the new all in one housing, so no need to touch the filter element inside the housing.

View attachment 576625

Aye that’s what I had to do in the new forest. Only problem was I had to pay fiat dealer price. Wow, that stung. It only took five minutes to change though in the car park of the Crown Stirrup pub. Where we stayed overnight.
I agree with you re the housing being preset to the correct torque but the post said filter change, not housing. That’s why I questioned the Independant garage try to claim the filter is pre set to the correct torque. It can’t be.

Edit; I now carry a complete housing as a spare having bought it for a fraction of the dealer price.

 

[Richard n Ann]

I changed our filter about a year ago, bought the tool, tightened it to the correct torque setting and it's been ok. Didn't see any lines or marks (that's not to say there aren't any)

 

[mark49]

When the housing is factory assembled, it will have been assembled on a jig to correctly aline the top and the lower part of the housing so when it is clipped onto its mounting in the engine bay the fuel in and fuel out connections are in the correct position for the fuel pipes. When the clamping ring is torqued to the correct setting, then the 3 lines are marked.
When installed in the engine bay, if any of the 3 marks are not in line then that is an indication that one or more or the 3 component part of the housing has moved.

If somebody like myself goes to change the filter element inside, then when I come to re-assemble I'm only interested in the top and bottom lines lining up so the fuel in and fuel out connections are in the correct position for the fuel pipes.
When I torque up the clamping ring I'm only interested in the correct torque setting being applied not where the middle line was originally as the new "O" ring seal may not be exactly the same as the old "O" ring seal causing the lines to not line up as they had before.

So what would you think to it lasting 6 weeks for £360? Is there something else to cause this fault or is it just something I should accept. I’m just fishing for advice before I decide what to do.
Thanks very much for the answers so far.

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[Two on Tour]

So what would you think to it lasting 6 weeks for £360? Is there something else to cause this fault or is it just something I should accept. I’m just fishing for advice before I decide what to do.
Thanks very much for the answers so far.

Jesus, ......... what did you get for your £360 outlay?

 

[mark49]

Fuel filter housing complete. Fitted. I was touring for a month so it wasn’t a local mechanic to home.

 

[Two on Tour]

The normal method for getting access to changing the fuel filter is to remove the N/S headlamp unit.

Although the mechanic will buy the complete filter housing at trade prices they will of course add a percentage for profit.
When I was in business I would normally charge an average of what the customer would likely buy it for as it stops them saying "I could have bought it cheaper"
There is a big variation on the price you can buy these housings for, so going for the expensive end then say £100
I can change mine in less than an hour start to finish, so give them the benefit of the doubt and say one hour, and even if you said £100 per hour labour rate then £360 is rather extracting the urine.

 

[2657]

The normal method for getting access to changing the fuel filter is to remove the N/S headlamp unit.

Although the mechanic will buy the complete filter housing at trade prices they will of course add a percentage for profit.
When I was in business I would normally charge an average of what the customer would likely buy it for as it stops them saying "I could have bought it cheaper"
There is a big variation on the price you can buy these housings for, so going for the expensive end then say £100
I can change mine in less than an hour start to finish, so give them the benefit of the doubt and say one hour, and even if you said £100 per hour labour rate then £360 is rather extracting the urine.

I changed mine complete a couple of years ago without removing the headlight,thought it was a big job! struggled a bit.
Last year I had to change the headlights to matriculate the van into Portugal and found out how easy it was, live and learn!

 

[glenn2926]

The normal method for getting access to changing the fuel filter is to remove the N/S headlamp unit.

Although the mechanic will buy the complete filter housing at trade prices they will of course add a percentage for profit.
When I was in business I would normally charge an average of what the customer would likely buy it for as it stops them saying "I could have bought it cheaper"
There is a big variation on the price you can buy these housings for, so going for the expensive end then say £100
I can change mine in less than an hour start to finish, so give them the benefit of the doubt and say one hour, and even if you said £100 per hour labour rate then £360 is rather extracting the urine.

I did mine in around five minutes (changed the whole housing) no tools required definitely no need to remove anything to get at it. It’s on the NS bulkhead. Just unclip the hoses unclip the housing and then put in the new one.

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[Two on Tour]

I did mine in around five minutes (changed the whole housing) no tools required definitely no need to remove anything to get at it. It’s on the NS bulkhead. Just unclip the hoses unclip the housing and then put in the new one.

Ducato or Transit?

 

[glenn2926]

Ducato or Transit?

The dreaded Ducato fuel filter.