I wanted to change the fuel filter on my Taurus but didn't realize what
I was getting into. This is my 4th Taurus, the others being a '90, '95,
and '00. All call for the same filter but the '05 uses a special fuel
line clip. Most of the filters come with the clips because they get
brittle and break. But the catalog on the 05, which calls for the same
filter, has a special clip at tank end and a push release at engine
end. I didn't know any of this so I had to figure out how to get the
old filter off. Like always, the plastic clip on the tank side broke
when I was removing the filter. The clip that comes with the new filter
didn't fit. (All this happened on a Saturday night; had to run to
Autozone, Advance, and Pep Boys to search for the clip; none had it.)
So now I was suck. Monday I went to NAPA, they never let me down, and
the guys couldn't find it in the books or in a "help" packages, and the
05 clip doesn't come with the filter. I went to a Ford dealer, and
surprise, Motorcraft sells the filter with NO clips. The parts guy
looked in the book for the 05 and the only listing was for the whole
fuel line, no clips are listed separately. What a joke! He said that
the service guy, if he broke one, would have to end up cutting the line
and running a hose to the filter. Thinking this was getting out of
hand, that evening I went to the NAPA site (because they never let me
down) and behold, I find a listing and a photo of what looks to be the
clips! I printed the page, took it to NAPA, they didn't carry it
(couldn't even find it their books) but would order them from the
warehouse. I picked them up today and they are the correct clips. Even
though they only come as a 10 piece lot at $7.77, I was still satisfied
with the ending. To me there is nothing worse than starting a simple
job and seeing it grow into a mess. The NAPA number is FILNCK11. To
those who are about to change the filter I hope this helps.

dmtaurus wrote:
There are tools available to release the OEM clips. If you had been properly
trained, you would know this, There are also, as you found out, different clips for
different applications that require yet more different tools. I'm glad you figured it
out, but remember what you learned if you ever have to have a simple fuel filter
replaced at a shop and wonder why the price is so "high".

I think the bigger question is why would Ford go from making a successful, proven
design, to a design, albeit successful, but yet incur unnecessary tooling and changeover
costs to the manufacturing process. Hence, the mechanic at the dealer has to get a
"special' tool to do a simple change-out. That's not a smart way to do good business,
for Ford or the mechanic. Training has some part but realistically it should not be
that complex. I figured out how to do the old style in a snap, but the new style has
too many pitfalls that even a trained mechanic can fall into. The new clip is not
nearly as robust as the old clip. I'm not blaming the shop or mechanic for the price
they might charge. If there is any blame to be found in this it's with the designer who
fixed something that wasn't broke.


Tom Adkins wrote:

dmtaurus wrote:
Why? Because they can save a few cents on the production line. This is
nothing new in the car business. Service is where the dealers make
their money, so they can easily afford the special tools and training.
Manufacturers concentrate on keeping costs down, rather than making
service easier for DIYers or independent shops.

In this case specifically, the new style clip is not any easier to install than the old
design and, because of it's crossection, is easier to break. so where is he labor savings?
There is none. Material savings are nil.

Now as far as the dealers go, yes, it's the service bays that make the money. But if I can
shave minutes off the off the disassembly of something in the shop, and reduce the possible
risk of breaking the old part and having to dig it out, why would I not want to do that? I
can spend those shaved minutes working on something else and making more money. Savings in
tools and training is what a dealer would desire, not more of it. Nobody said that DIY'ers
were the interest of the car companies.

The whole point of my post was really to help anyone that reads in this group to get help
from someone who has been there done that. It wasn't really to slam the designer, although I
have to admit that it's sometimes satisfying to do that, but to give another mechanic or
owner some info and help if they get into this problem. Dealers or other interested parties
may get burrs under their saddle. But so what, I am not a dealer or interested other party.

Bob wrote:

And then you wonder why Ford's lost billions...

On Thu, 10 May 2007 23:33:41 -0400, dmtaurus <dmtaurus (AT) surfbest (DOT) net>
wrote:

-GV

You're absoluitely right! They want to make a few extra pennies. ie;
Back in the 1960's I owned several Cadillacs. I found that the Cad
prices were outa sight! But but the Buick prices for the EXACT SAME
PART was much cheaper. So guess which parts I bought?

They will do anything to make a buck!!
Doc
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