Fuel Filter Question - 2001 Boxster
 

I am about to replace the fuel filter on my 2001 Boxster and understand that I need to pull the fuel pump relay and crank the engine a few times to lower the pressure. I have the 101 projects book.

Where is the fuel pump relay and how do I "pull" it? Anything else I should know?

Thank you

Above the fuse panel under the driver's side dash there is a second panel with relays; the fuel pump relay is on the top row, second from the left.

Or just pull the fuel pump fuse, much easier than the relay.

Thank you all, I will try it this weekend.

That would be fuse C4?

I just recently replaced my fuel filter and didn't do any of these steps. A cup of gas drained out but otherwise very easy to manage. I did remove the fuel cap.

Ditto to Syracuse

Ditto Ditto. Did not do anything other than replace the filter.

fuel filter location?
 

Could someone please confirm the location of the fuel filter on the 987's (2007)..?
for some reason I have not seen mine and at 97k should be planning to replace it.

Thank you!

For those of you who have successfully changed out the fuel filters on your 986's, what were the reason(s) leading up to your decision?
I am thinking of going the same route on my 2001 2.7 in an effort to eliminate an intermittent hesitation around 4500 RPM.

Thanks.

I believe for the 987 they integrated the filter with the fuel pump/sender unit. Starting in 2002, Porsche moved the filter to inside the gas tank, and called it a "lifetime" filter that never needs to be changed. This and more info can be found at our DIY article I linked below.

Anyone needing a step by step on the replacement for the 986 and wanting more info can check out our article here: Porsche Boxster Fuel Filter Replacement | 986 / 987 (1997-08) | Pelican Parts Technical Article

I didn't have any symptoms at all. I changed it cause Porsche recommends that they be replaced every 60k miles. I had hit 60k, so changed it.

Thank you Luccia!

Thank you for the reply.

This is not as easy as they say. I could not release the clip on the filter next to the ground wire; not room, the ground wire was tight (probably crimped with pliers). I gave up put everything back. I have 41.5 K miles i'll wait till I hit 60K and take to the dealer.

That's funny, I don't remember having this problem. What year is yours? Maybe there's some year-to-year variability.
I don't recall having much of a problem changing it out, but—at 104K now—it's been a good while since I hit 60K, so the details are a bit fuzzy in my mind.

I have a 2001 S. I expected it to be <1 hr. 2 hrs later, I still could not get the dang thing off.

I haven't changed the filter on a Boxster, but I know some electrical connectors have a locking tab. You may need to press the little tab to release it.

I'm not sure this is your situation, but here's a pic of a connector with a locking tab. The tab is at the tip of the pen. You can't pull the connector off without pushing on that tab.
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1569279684.jpg

Wow, that's weird. Mine's an '01 S as well.
I definitely didn't have to fool around with any tiny locking tab, as described by piper. As I recall, I was working at arm's length, without an over-abundance of light. And my eyes (even a few years ago) weren't as good as they once were. For whatever reason, somehow it seems like you have a different situation...

I wasn't saying that they absolutely have the locking tab. I've never changed the filter, but I have had experience with difficult to remove electrical connectors, and they all had locking tabs. Since Ciao had problems with it I was proposing that it may have a locking tab.

I just replaced the fuel filter on my 2001 Boxster S and it was a bit of a pain getting around the coolant pipes, and unclicking the two fuel lines. But it can be done in about an hour or so. The early Boxster's had the fuel filter under the car about in the middle, the later 986's and 987 have the filter inside the tank.

Here is a video on how I replaced my fuel filter for reference.

https://youtu.be/N5ViSh3Gb28

Brian :)