A bad fuel filter restricts the fuel needed for your F150’s engine to run correctly. Recognizable symptoms of a bad or failed fuel filter include engine sputter and continual stalling during starting attempts. Ford Motor Company recommends that you replace the fuel filter on the 1993 F150 every 15,000 mile or every 15 months which ever comes first. Although this is their recommendation, your particular driving conditions and the quality of fuel you use can damage the fuel filter beforehand. Replacing the fuel filter yourself should take 30 minutes to do with the proper tools. The filter on your EFI engine mounts under the truck in the middle of the driver's side frame rail.
Remove the fuel cap on the F150 slowly to depressurize the gas tank. Open the driver door, remove the fuse panel cover and located the fuel pump fuse. Remove the fuse and then start the engine. The truck will stall once all of the available fuel is used, effectively reliving the fuel system pressure.
Attempt to restart the engine three additional times. Each time hold the ignition key in the starting position for four seconds. Do not pump the gas pedal. Turn the ignition off and remove the key.
Raise the hood and use a socket wrench to disconnect the negative cable from the battery. Wrap the terminal on the battery cable completely with electrical tape and then position the cable away from the battery.
Firmly place a wheel block in front of both front tires and then raise the truck at the rear with a hydraulic jack.
Place a jack stand on the left and right side of the truck, under the frame. Raise the support arms on the jack stands to equal heights and then lower the hydraulic jack to allow the jack stands to fully support the rear end of the truck.
Clean all of the dirt off the fuel filter as well as both fuel lines connected to it with a shop rag. Don’t use anything sharp or pointed to remove the dirt on the fuel lines. If there’s stubborn, hard and crusty dirt on them use a small amount of water to moisten the dirt.
Disconnect the fuel line from one end of the filter using the T82L-9500-AH fuel line tool. Place the tool over the nipple on the fuel filter and push it down into the quick-connect fitting. Then pull the fuel line straight off the fuel filter and quickly plug the line with a fuel line plug. Repeat this step to remove the fuel line from the other end of the filter. If you don’t have the fuel line tool, a pair of 6-inch locking pliers can be used to remove the fuel lines, instead. Place the pliers around the nipple on the fuel filter and evenly compress the round tab on the quick-connect fitting to remove the fuel line. If you don’t compress the round tab evenly, you won’t be able to remove the fuel line.
Remove the old fuel filter by simply popping it out of the retaining clip on the frame rail. Install the new fuel filter by reversing this step while making sure the arrow on the filter points toward the engine.
Unplug and reattach the fuel lines, one at a time, to the fuel filter. The fuel lines just push right onto the nipple on the filter. You will hear a small engaging click to let you know each of the fuel lines is fully seated and locked in place.
Raise the rear end of the truck with your hydraulic jack, remove both jack stands and then lower the truck back down to the ground. Place the fuel cap back on securely then remove both of the wheel blocks from the front tires.
Reinstall the fuel pump fuse and return the cover to your fuse panel. Remove the electrical tape on the negative battery cable and then secure the cable back to the battery. Turn the ignition key into the “RUN” position and wait four seconds, then turn the key off. Do this six more times to allow the fuel pressure to build up before you actually start the engine. With the engine running check the fuel lines on the filter for leaks. Take the F150 for a test drive in the neighborhood before taking it out onto the open road.
