[wiswind]

I have a '96 windstar, so mine is different in some respects than yours.
My fuel filter is located under the car.....in front of the rear, driver side wheel... It is on the inside face of the frame member.

You will want to release the pressure in the fuel system before disconnecting any fuel lines. The fuel system will hold pressure for quite a while after the car is shut off. The fuel pressure release for my '96 3.8L is on the front of the crome fuel rail....just under the upper intake manifold. Looks like a tire pressure valve.....has a little black cap on it.

One end of my filter has a "duck bill" plastic clip that you slide out to release the fuel line from the filter.

The other end of my filter requires a special tool...
The tool is a plastic sleeve that slides up inside a crome connector....to release the clips that are inside the connector.
The plastic sleeve tools come in a set of various sizes......for $5-$10. You can get them at most auto part stores. They are used for air conditioning connections also....so they are sometimes called as such.

My set had instructions to use the 3/8" size for the FORD 5/16" size fuel line.