I was on the way to trade in my o4 and the Water In Fuel warning came on... What a time for that to happen! I pulled into a oil change place and they had the filter and pulled it right in to change it out...

While waiting the manager came in ad said that they were almost finished and just had to replace the Right fender well... I was kinda shocked.. But he said it was easier to pull the well and change the filter and thats how they always did it....

Anyone ever pull their fender well?

That is one way to do it. Lots of people do it that way. I can do it way quicker from the top but you have to bend one of the a/c lines a bit to make room to remove the filter.

I do mine from the top too with a strap wrench.

I do it that way every time. I also lube the push darts with spray dieselctric so they come out easy. Doing it from the fender well allows a nice view and easy access to drain the unit.

Soo MUCH easier to change the filter after the fender well is removed! Removal of that fender well takes only some minutes. Doing it from the top you need small fingers, a "surgical arm" and there is a good chance you will rip off the connection cable for the switch IMHO.

check the Do It Yourself Section for the method and pictures of how to do this.

Guess I'm one of the few the pull the battery to do it. Never had a problem - 10 minute job

I usually pull the top clips out of the well and pull it down .......... not as bad as pullin the whole thing out

I pull the fender well to change as well. I'm usually changing the oil at the time, so the truck is on jackstands. To see into the truck as is when jacked up, I have to stand on a crate. No way I'd be able to change the fuel filter that way. You get charged by the hour here to use bays, and I hate standing around, so I multi-task.

I put in riv nuts and and black stainless screws. So now it takes about 2 minutes tops to pull the fender liner. IMHO this is the why to go because you can look at a lot of things while your in there.

Greg

I just pull the battery, works well

I just let the 10 minute auto oil changer guys do it while I am sitting in my truck listening to the stereo and sipping my starbucks. why go to all the trouble of doing it yourself when they can do it for only about five dollars more then the filter costs at the dealer??? Plus you don't have to worry about oil disposal or making a mess in your driveway.
(I turn wrenches for a living, hate to do it at home)

I just let the 10 minute auto oil changer guys do it while I am sitting in my truck listening to the stereo and sipping my starbucks. why go to all the trouble of doing it yourself when they can do it for only about five dollars more then the filter costs at the dealer??? Plus you don't have to worry about oil disposal or making a mess in your driveway.
(I turn wrenches for a living, hate to do it at home)

You trying to tell us that you are only paying $35 to have someone else change your fuel filter???

We can't do it at home, we have to go to the shop on post, since we live in military housing. cost a whopping $2/hr, they have a place to dispose of used fluids, and trained staff to help if need be. We can do oil, tranny, and fuel filter inan hour or less. Why pay someone more than it cost for parts to do it?

Paid $145.52 to have 3rd Service
Engine Air Cleaner Filter Replacement, GM Oil Life System Maintenance, Fuel/Spin on Tranny Filter change.
Had the Air filter, Oil Filter and oil change, Fuel Filter changed, and the spin on transmission filter changed and transmission topped off, chassis lubed and differentials and transfer case topped off, for $145.52, that included all parts, oil and oil disposal fees. All done in about 15 minutes, pretty good deal, don't you think??
Like I said I turn wrenches for a living, I hate doing it at home, even using air tools it would have taken me at least an hour , probably more like an hour and a half and the parts would have cost about $100.00 bucks, (fuel filter was $35.00 at "Pepboys", air cleaner was around $22.00, oil filter was about $10.00, spin on tranny filter is around $8.00, 10 quarts of delo is about $25.00, plus what ever the grease, tranny oil, synthetic diff oil and transfer case oil cost. I make a little over $22.00 an hour and it it would have taken me an hour and a half to do myself in over 100 degree weather and I would have only saved about $12.00, well worth it to have it done, than do it myself...Dont you think??

Until they screw it up, and your truck stalls out I don't trust people to work on my stuff especially a lube shop.

why go to all the trouble of doing it yourself when they can do it for only about five dollars more then the filter costs at the dealer???

$145 is a little different than "5 dollars more than the filter costs", but IMHO I'd still do it myself:

#1) Saves at least $50 using your figures

#2) I know it's done right.

To each his own......I suppose if I worked on cars for 8 hours a day it be worth the $50 not to have to work on my own car too :)

#2) I know it's done right.
Ditto.
Seen too many screw ups... fasteners left off, work incomplete, etc...
If it doesn't require a hoist, I do it myself.
Changed the timing belt and water pump in my Tundra and saved over $300.

Do it the easy way! Adjust the A/C line once and be done with it! It is a simple operation and takes less steps to take it out from the top. You guys that take out the fender liner work too hard.

I now pull the wheel well. Second filter change I managed to break a fuel line. That was a $450.00 education

Kampzite, you are absolutely right.I had the dealer change my fuel filter at a cost of $122.00.They wanted $200.00 to change the transmission fluid with new internal and external filters.I had the tranny and fluid,filters,oil filter,oil & lubed,all systems topped off for $142.00 @ GreeseMonkey.