iDtec Fuel Filter change Take 1: Help!!!
The story
Got some time today and went to change the fuel filter for my 2.2 iDtec Accord
1. Disconnect Battery. Easy
2. Removed the cross member. Easy
3. Undid the nut holding the fuse box. Opened the fuse box and removed the 2 input wires thus allowing the fuse box to be put to one side out of the way. Easy
4. Removed the bolts holding the fuel pipes. One at the top and one at the back and pull pipes free. Careful not to drop bolts. Memo to self, next time have a cloth ready to soak up fuel spillage. Easy enough.
5. Unplugged sensors from around the bracket. Fiddly to get at but got there in the end.
6. Now undid 3 bolts at the front holding the fuel bracket to the body. 10 mm bolts. Tricky and fiddly to get at as not a lot of room and I didn’t want to round the bolts but got there in the end.
7. I then thought (in my naivety) that the fuel bracket would come free but oh how wrong I was. I couldn’t get the bracket free. After a lot of huffing, puffing, skin and tears I discovered there was another bolt on the far side between the filter and the bulk head. I couldn’t see it as it is hidden (thanks Honda engineers) but I could feel it. I then got my iPhone and took a photo and there it was, buried and partially obscured by a wiring. I then tried by using a socket bar and universal joint but I could not get the socket onto the bolt. I couldn’t see what I was doing as the space is so limited and I couldn’t get on that bolt. This is where I spent a few hours, back and forth, loosing skin and patience and due to time constraints I waved the white flag, tucked my fuel filter between my legs and abandoned ship. Nightmare.
I put everything back together which was not too bad to do and she started fine.
My question is how is that bolt supposed to be removed (never mind being able to put it back on!!!)???? If a person was triple jointed with an eye ball at the end of their finger and could see in the dark and was 3 inches in height then yes it would be possible!!!!
Any help, advice, comments are welcome. If I am successful then I’ll do a proper write up.
Thanks
The story
Got some time today and went to change the fuel filter for my 2.2 iDtec Accord
1. Disconnect Battery. Easy
2. Removed the cross member. Easy
3. Undid the nut holding the fuse box. Opened the fuse box and removed the 2 input wires thus allowing the fuse box to be put to one side out of the way. Easy
4. Removed the bolts holding the fuel pipes. One at the top and one at the back and pull pipes free. Careful not to drop bolts. Memo to self, next time have a cloth ready to soak up fuel spillage. Easy enough.
5. Unplugged sensors from around the bracket. Fiddly to get at but got there in the end.
6. Now undid 3 bolts at the front holding the fuel bracket to the body. 10 mm bolts. Tricky and fiddly to get at as not a lot of room and I didn’t want to round the bolts but got there in the end.
7. I then thought (in my naivety) that the fuel bracket would come free but oh how wrong I was. I couldn’t get the bracket free. After a lot of huffing, puffing, skin and tears I discovered there was another bolt on the far side between the filter and the bulk head. I couldn’t see it as it is hidden (thanks Honda engineers) but I could feel it. I then got my iPhone and took a photo and there it was, buried and partially obscured by a wiring. I then tried by using a socket bar and universal joint but I could not get the socket onto the bolt. I couldn’t see what I was doing as the space is so limited and I couldn’t get on that bolt. This is where I spent a few hours, back and forth, loosing skin and patience and due to time constraints I waved the white flag, tucked my fuel filter between my legs and abandoned ship. Nightmare.
I put everything back together which was not too bad to do and she started fine.
My question is how is that bolt supposed to be removed (never mind being able to put it back on!!!)???? If a person was triple jointed with an eye ball at the end of their finger and could see in the dark and was 3 inches in height then yes it would be possible!!!!
Any help, advice, comments are welcome. If I am successful then I’ll do a proper write up.
Thanks