96 Fuel Filter Flare Nut Jammed & Clunk in Overdrive

[Raycoast]

I have a couple issues with my 96 Camry. It has been dying every once in awhile, especially when going up hill during freeway driving. I decided to try and replace the Fuel Filter after I did all other regular tune up stuff. When I got to the Flare nut on the bottom of the filter it twisted a little bit and jammed up. I don't know if its cross threaded or what. I tried using a flare wrench on it but it ended up stripping it. So then I decided since it was stripped I would use some locking pliers. I really clamped them down tight down but this thing is so jammed the locking pliers just mangled and stripped it out more but it didn't move it any. I contacted the toyota dealership and they told me that it was a common problem and that it is a problem with the threading and the only thing I can do is replace the fuel line all the way from the tank to the filter. Does anybody know of any other options? Would it be possible to splice the line and put in an inline filter or is the pressure to great?

The second thing is that ever since I bought my car when it is in overdrive and it switches gears at about 40mph I get a dull thunk from under the car. I don't notice it when I turn overdrive off. I have tried replacing the transmision fluid but it still does the same thing. Thanks in advance for any help.

[Brian R.]

IMO, don't use any other type of filter. You are taking a big risk by using anything as a filter other than a hard-plumbed filter like the OEM filter. If you had extra length of line, you could cut off the damaged end and reflare the tubing with a new fitting. I don't think you have enough extra length of tubing to do that. (Next time use some penetrating oil on the fitting if you didn't already do that).

One other possible fix is to cut the tubing from the pump off on the horizontal length and fashion a 90 degree extension (with a tubing bender and the exact same size and wall thickness of stainless steel tubing) of the same dimensions as the damaged part. Have both a female and male fitting on the ends of this extension. Then flare the end of the horizontal tube from the pump and install a male fitting on that end. You would end up with an extra fitting on the line. As long as you made good-quality connections and use the correct size tubing, that should work.

For the transmission, try flushing it and replacing the filter. Just draining it only replaces a small portion of the fluid.

[Raycoast]

Any ideas where I might get the new fitting? The dealership said I need to order the whole line in order to get the fitting.

[Brian R.]

Sorry, no idea. I will think about it. I would buy a fuel filter (since you think you need one anyway) and use it to try and match to a possible fitting thread and size. Might just be a metric flare fitting.

[Brian R.]

Might just be easier to buy the line...

[Raycoast]

Thanks for your input, I might buy a line its only about $35. Its just going to be a really long involved project. You might be right about the metric flare fitting, I will have to check that out. I might see if I can scrap a fitting from the junk yard or something.

[Brian R.]

Just replacing that one fitting may not be practical. You have to have enough extra length of line to cut the line and reflare the end. It is a tight fit. It is possibly your best bet to patch the line like I described. The patch may be secured with a standard swagelock fitting. The flare you make for the filter has to be the same angle as the female fitting on the filter. Stainless steel doesn't give much and a non-fitting flare won't seal well.

[Raycoast]

I ended up finding a new flare nut at the junk yard that was in good shape from a 99 camry, I had one chance to do it right without having to patch the line or redo the whole gas line. I had just enough room to cut just the flare off with a pipe cutter. If I cut to much off I wouldn't be able to use the flaring tool. I pushed the nut down as far as it would go before the bend in the pipe. I put my flaring tool on that had just enough room to make a flare but no more than that. I made the flare and everything fit back together. In order to do it I had to take the bracket off and attatch the gas line to the filter in order to get it on strait then I remounted the bracket. It was very tight but it worked. Anyway It hasn't died on me since then. But it didn't die real often before, and I still notice it lags a little when you press on the gas at times and it seems like it loses a little acceleration and could die while driving up hill. I thought it may be water in the line so I put some gas antifreeze in. I took it to shucks to get the computer diagnostic print out, nothing there. I replaced the plugs about 3months ago, do you suppose one of the plugs used is bad?

Thanks again for your input.

[Brian R.]

Check your distributor cap and rotor. Check the other ignition components (ignitor, wires, etc).

Check your fuel system for pressure and delivery volume.

Might just need to clean the injectors or have someone clean them for you.

http://www.storesonline.com/site/598...001?src=google

Try premium gas for a change and see if that makes a difference.

I doubt it's the plugs

[GSS123]

Raycoast I have to admire your deadication to solving the fuel line flare nut problem. I know I would have spent the $35 for the replacement line. Sometimes I rise to the challenge and spend countless hours working on one of my Camrys just to learn new things. Congrats.

I recently discovered that changing back three spark plugs on a 1994 Camry V6 is easy with the right tools. You never know until you try.

[Brian R.]

I'll bet changing the flare nut was easier than installing the new fuel line would have been.