fuel line came apart on 99 voyager

I replaced my fuel filter several months ago on a 99 Plymouth Voyager with 4 cylinder engine. This van has 200,000 miles on it. This was a pre-emptive replacement done as preventive maintenance; the van was not suffering from a bad filter at the time.

When I changed the filter I was surprised to find quick-connect fittings on the tank and the line going toward the engine, but the fittings worked OK and all has been well for several months. 2 days ago my wife was driving the van and it died in a parking lot. When I looked at it, I found that the quick connect fitting had come apart where the filter attaches to the pump nipple on the tank. I assume that it blew off because of the high pressure. I snapped it back on and everything worked well again, although I want to make sure it doesn't happen again. My wife drove the van again last night, and the other line blew off, the one going toward the engine. Once again, I snapped it back on and we drove the van home.

What I need to know now is if this is a common problem with this vehicle, or if there is something else wrong. It can't be a dirty filter causing excessive pressure, because for one thing I put in a new filter, and also both lines blew off on both sides of the filter, which wouldn't happen if the fuel could'nt pass through the filter. Could it be that there is something else obstructed in the path to the injectors, downstream of the filter? Has anybody else had this problem? Or perhaps my problem comes from the fact that I used a cheap aftermarket filter from Autozone. Does my filter simply have crummy connectors on it? All of the manufacturers use plastic connectors. What do you guys think?

Reply to
Robbie and Laura Reynolds
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If it is just blowing the couplers off. Whe you plug them on pull back on them and see if they lock on. Get a dealer oem filter or a good major brand OEM type like a WIX fuel filter. And remember Dealer OEM only hurts one time. MT

Reply to
MT-2500

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I too, recommend an OEM or WIX filter. The WIX filters are also sold by NAPA. I tried to use another less expensive one, but the tubes were so stiff, that I could not bend them enough to make the connections. The NAPA/WIX filter has been in for over 3 years without a problem.

-KM

Reply to
kmatheson

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Reply to
billccm

I thought about that. When I put the filter in I thought that the connectors seemed kind of wimpy. But the old one worked, so I couldn't argue with it. When it came apart I considered that my best course of action would probably be to replace each fitting with a piece of tubing and two clamps.

billccm wrote:

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Reply to
Robbie and Laura Reynolds

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Not that problem seems to have been solved, I have a question for you two. Do you get much kidding about being Rob and Laura?

Reply to
tomkanpa

Reply to
philthy

I solved the problem. I thought I would cut the ends off of the tubes and replace them with about 3 inches of rubber fuel line, but when I got under there and remembered that the lines were thin plastic I ended up cutting them off right at the filter and replacing the entire line. It took about half an hour and everything is working well.

I still think that's a pretty stupid design. Do they still use plastic lines with plastic clips on the newer cars, or did they come to their senses and go back to metal fittings, rubber hoses and clamps?

philthy wrote:

Reply to
Robbie and Laura Reynolds

Reply to
billccm

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philthy

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