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.- posted
16 years ago