How to Change the Fuel Filter on a 2002 Mazda Tribute
- 1). Park your car on level ground. Apply your parking brake as you will need to crawl underneath your Tribute to replace the fuel filter.
- 2). Pop open your hood. Look beside the battery and find your fuse box. Open your fuse box and pull the fuel pump fuse from the fuse box. Start the engine and let it idle until it stalls. This will depressurize the fuel system. Turn off the ignition. Disconnect the negative, or black, battery cable.
- 3). Crawl underneath your Tribute on the driver's side. Locate your fuel filter. On a 2002 Mazda Tribute, the fuel filter is located almost directly below the seating area on the driver's side of the fuel tank. You should be able to identify the fuel filter as a black or silver cylinder mounted on the frame, with the fuel line coming from both ends of the cylinder. Place the drain pan underneath the filter to catch any drips.
- 4). Use the quick-release tool to remove the clamps located at either end of the fuel filter. Detach the fuel lines from the fuel filter as you remove the clamps that connect them to the fuel filter. Replace the old fuel filter with a new fuel filter by pushing the lines onto it until you hear a click. Make sure as you are connecting the new fuel filter, you install it with the arrow on the fuel filter facing forward towards the front of the car.
- 5). Reinstall the fuel pump fuse to the fuse box. Connect the negative, or black, battery cable. Turn the ignition on and off a couple of times to pressurize the fuel system, then visually inspect the new filter for leaks.
