Truth time: As a 19-year-old driving a big-block Buick Regal, I wasn't exactly thrilled when Ford dropped the old V-8, full-framed Cougar in favor of this tiny four-banger. In fact, I probably would have said that the best way to replace a new Cougar's fuel filter was to buy a Mustang. More than a decade later, though, I've seen and driven enough of them to know that they always were pretty great little runabouts. So, I was thankful for the opportunity to make up for my prejudice a bit by keeping this one running.
I found the fuel pump relay in the fuse block under the hood, and pulled it out. After starting the car and running it until it died, I turned the key off and knew the fuel system would be depressurized and safe to work on.
The in-line fuel filter was right under the driver-side door, which itself seemed unusual for a compact like this. Maybe it was a sign of the times, but this car didn't use regular hose clamps; rather, it used U-shaped, plastic retainers pushed up over the base of the hoses where they connected to the fuel pump.
I tried to use a flat-head screwdriver to spread the top of the clips over the lines, as prescribed by Ford. They wouldn't move, though, so I simply snipped the "legs" of the "U" off with a set of wire cutters and pulled the clips off in pieces. The new fuel filter came with a replacement set anyway.
I loosened the clamp that held the filter into its bracket with the screwdriver, pulled the lines off and pulled the filter out. Sure enough, it was filled with junk from the tank. The new fuel filter went in just as the old one came out, with the ridged side facing back and the "direction of flow" arrow pointing forward. I snugged the retaining clamp down and plugged the lines into the filter. As expected, the new retaining clips went on without much fuss; I just push them up over the lines with my thumb and locked them into place.
With the pump relay reinstalled and the key turned to the "On" position, the fuel pumped hummed into happy life. After cycling the key a couple of times, I turned the key all the way and the Cougar fired up within three chugs of the starter.
Would I call this redemption for my initial hatred of the new Cougar? No. I'd have still rather swapped in a V-8 than change the fuel filter. But this one was running again, and that's something, anyway.
