Is that the fuel filter on the top of the fuel sender in the ebay pic? If it is then why do you have to remove the entire unit from the tank to change the filter?

 

Never mind I see that is the pressure regulator on the top of the sender.

 

Last night I restarted my attempts to get the retain ring to fit properly on the fuel tank and lock down the pump assembly. Got it to fit within five minutes this time! Bascily, what I hadn't noticed before is that the whole pump assembly needed to be pushed further into the tank. This pump I bought comes with a new seal and that's a pretty tight fit, so you need to push hard, especially the last 2-3 mm. If not the pump sits to high and the retainer ring won't fit properly.

So that mystery is solved. Got the fuel tank back under the Jeep as well. Bit of a hassle on your own and the car on two axle stands. It's do-able, but an extra pair of hands would have been nice. Still got it back in.

Got dark so had to stop. This weekend I have to finish the job. Still need to tighten up the bolts on the brackets that hold the tank, reconnect the various hoses and connectors and then we should be good to go.

Coming from Europe I was a bit mistified with these quick connectors in the fuel line. We don't use those at all in Europe. Seems to be a pretty loose fit if you ask me. Got some new plastic inset/retainer clips (not sure what the correct term is). Hope I don't have anything leaking. I'm going to try and hook everything up and start the pump, see if everyting hold, before tightning and bolting the whole fuel tank back in place.

Jeroen

 

Finally got the retainer ring fitted properly. I had to push the pump in further against the seal. Pretty tight. But if you don't the retainer ring won't fit properly.

So this morning the tank went back under. Everything looks fine. Fuel gauge appears to be working normal. Engine starts immediately.

Jeroen

 

According to Quadratec, the last inline fuel filter on the XJ was in 1996 w/ the 4.0 L engine.

For those of us who have the '97 and later XJ, why not simply remove the filter (or screen if you prefer) from the fuel tank pick-up, re-install the pump, and lastely purchase and install the earlier in-line fuel filter, Part No. 3300076 (Q.T. P.N. 51304.02) which would put us back with the best location for a serviceable fuel filter.

 

reviving this thread to see if anyone has modified the fuel filter to go inline outside of tank like older versions, ie pre-1997/1998

 

Nothing new here since 2021, but I like where you are going with this.