QuestionQUESTION: Is there an access panel on the 2001 Santa Fe, 2.7L, V6, to extract the fuel pump to install a fuel filter or must the gas tank be removed? Also when replacing the fuel filter do you recommend a new gasket or additional parts? Thanks for your help in advance.
ANSWER: You'll need to remove the left rear seat. The access panel will be under a flap in the carpet there.
Be careful when removing the screws that hold the fuel pump in place. I've sometimes had these break on me. If it feels like a screw may be getting ready to break, you're probably better off not servicing the fuel filter unless you have a very compelling reason to do so.
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QUESTION: Would you advice not changing the fuel filter until the vehicle has a problem where changing the fuel filter may be the solution? Can the fuel filter last well beyond 100,000 miles? Thanks for your advice.
AnswerIf you're having a problem which you think the fuel filter may be causing, you should perform diagnostics to determine whether that's a reasonable possibility. In this case, you'd need to do a fuel pressure test. If the fuel pressure is too low (but not zero), any repair will involve removing the fuel pump assembly, consequences or not.
The fuel filter is indeed capable of lasting well beyond 100,000 miles. In fact, I have not once seen a Hyundai fuel filter cause a problem with a vehicle.
And I'm also not necessarily telling you to not replace the fuel filter. I just think you need to be careful, and if you think a screw may break, it's probably best to not remove the fuel pump unless absolutely necessary.
