- 1). Park your 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier on a level surface and turn the engine off. Unscrew the gas cap from the gas tank to relieve pressure from the fuel filter.
- 2). Jack up the rear of the vehicle and place jack stands in front of each rear tire on the frame rail of the car. Lower the car onto the jack stands. Make sure that the car is sitting securely on top of the jack stands.
- 3). Crawl under the driver's side of the car and locate the fuel filter. The fuel filter on the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier is located between the gas tank and the evaporator canister inside of the frame rail. The fuel filter has a basic nut on the inlet side of the fuel filter and a slide-on plastic quick-connect fitting on the outlet side of the fuel filter.
- 4). Slide a catch pan under the fuel filter. Loosen and remove the nut on the inlet side of the fuel filter with a 5/8-inch open-end wrench. Turn the nut counterclockwise to loosen the nut. Finish unscrewing the nut then pull the fuel line straight off of the inlet port of the fuel filter. Let the fuel line hang down and drain any excess fuel into the catch pan.
- 5). Remove the outlet side of the fuel filter with the fuel line quick-disconnect tool. Slide the end of the quick-disconnect tool inside of the end of the fuel line. Press the quick-disconnect tool inward until you feel the fuel line unlock from the outlet port of the fuel filter. Gently pull back on the fuel line and the fuel line will come off. Allow the fuel line to hang down and drain into the fuel filter. There will only be a little bit of fuel in the fuel line.
- 6). Slide the fuel filter straight out of the bracket. Discard the fuel filter into the fluid catch pan. Slide the new fuel filter into the bracket with the arrow on the fuel filter facing the engine and away from the gas tank. The arrow on the fuel filter represents the flow of the fuel from the gas tank to the engine.
- 7). Slide the plastic quick-connect fuel line straight onto the outlet port of the fuel filter until it locks into place. Gently pull back on the fuel line to ensure that it is locked on. Secure the inlet nut onto the inlet port of the fuel filter. Tighten the nut down with the 5/8-inch wrench. Slide the catch pan out from under the car.
- 8). Screw the gas cap back onto the gas tank. Turn the ignition key on and off three times to prime and fill the fuel filter full of gas. Then crank the engine. Inspect the fuel filter and the fuel line for leaks while the engine is running. Turn the engine off.
- 9). Jack up the rear of the car and remove the jack stands from under the car. Lower the car back to the ground.
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