Fuel Filter/unusual clamps

[paholskila]

Have 2005 Ranger 2.3, bought with only 15k miles after 5 years. I've since put another 20K on it. Occasionally runs rough, random, no consistent reason I can discern, shifting to neutral and revving once or twice has so far cleared up the problem. My first instinct was to replace the fuel filter, so I bought one, crawled underneath today expecting to see typical screw-tighten hose clamps, but no such thing: found some never-seen-before ?plastic? fasteners. Who can tell me about the OEM clamps on this vehicle? Last thing I want to do is get under there and pull them off with pliers or whatever and break something, so my truck won't run and I need some part I don't have. Rather than risk that I'll just take it somewhere and pay for half an hour of labor, but if it's way simple, I'm up for doing it myself. (I HAVE been cautioned, by the way, that the fuel system is under pressure and I should expect some gas to spritz out when I pull off the first hose.)

[Clinton]

There is a tool for it, But I did that on my 93 XL and popped them off with needle nose pliers

[Roadkill]

do the clips like this?

if so, your new filter should have come with new ones, if it didn't just be carefull when you remove the old ones. I've replaced the filter on my 89 ranger twice now and just used pliers to get the clips out. Be ready to smell like gas for the rest of the day, lol.

[STL]

My 2005 u just press in the green and orange and it pops off.

[paholskila]

OK, thanks to all, guess I'll give it a try. Worst case, Mama will have to drive me down to AutoZone.

[paholskila]

Thanks to all again, just replaced the filter without problem. Tried to push in the little colored tabs by finger, but wound up using pliers (gently) to depress them, at which time the hoses slid right off as advertised. Took pains to be sure I got the right hose on the right tube on the tank side, but as it turns out there is a slight difference in size and appearance, so no real problem. Small amount of gas spilled out, soaked it up with a rag, not a huge deal. Did NOT pull the fuel pump fuse as I read in some other posts, but with no key in the ignition evidently that wasn't necessary either. Now I just need to see if that solves the occasional (rare) rough running when accelerating from a stop. It wasn't happening in a predictable way, so time will tell.

[Clinton]

Glad to see you got it done!

[STL]

Nice to see ya get it done.

If I recall you cant replace the line wrong. all three are different sizes so it makes it nice.