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Please help with removing fuel pressure regulator!


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My 2000 legacy has poor MPG and fuel pressure reads too high. I got a new pressure regulator from Jamie and thought it would be an easy DIY project.

Darn, the pressure regulator is attached to the fuel rail by 2 phillips screw. Very tight screws and akward angle and every screwdriver I tried slips.

I took the intake and air filter hausing off to get more access and no progress.

I am soaking the screws in oil now.

Is there a trick mechanics use with stubborn phillips screws?

Thanks!!!!!!

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Not sure whether you're using regular oil or penetrating oil. I've always had good luck with liquid wrench, but I've heard good thing about PB-Blaster, don't know if one is better than the other.

 

Penetrating oil in conjunction with vertical blows to the philips head (interspersed with some soak-time to allow penetration) is a proven method for freeing stuck philips fasteners.

 

When you go to remove it, use a hardened philips bit in a 1/4" socket, turned with a ratchet. This'll give you the leverage you'll need and also allows you to experiment with different "philips" bits (e.g. #0, #1, #2, #3, clutch, etc.) to get the best fit. Once the bit it slips and cuts the square edges off the fastener, you've scrood the pooch. You really only get once chance to get a stuck philips out, so take your time, think your strategy through, flex you're muscles, and go in swinging.

 

Unfortunately torch-heat isn't an option for a fuel regulator. :eek:

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Man, you guys have hit me smack dab in my greatest pet peeve.

 

We drive fantasically sophisticated, refined internal combustion machinery--the zenith of over a hundred years of engineering genius and refinement.

 

They're controlled by super sensitive space age sensors feeding minute bits of information to computers for maximum efficiency and environmental friendliness.

 

And how are they put together? With the cheapest pot metal screws a manufacturer can buy.

 

Arrrrgh! Drives me NUTZ!

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Before you try and drill them out , Try using Visegrips on the out side edge of the screws . You have nothing to loose if you damage them ,If the threads are stuck and you try and drill them out you still have to get he threaded bits out , always a dicey job

SEA#3

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Before you try and drill them out , Try using Visegrips on the out side edge of the screws . You have nothing to loose if you damage them ,If the threads are stuck and you try and drill them out you still have to get he threaded bits out , always a dicey job

SEA#3

 

Sears has screw extractors which might work if you can somehow fit a drill in the area. I've heard that they work very well to remove stripped screws. I would only ddo the drilling out method as the last resort. I've had to do that before and lets jus say that I didn't enjoy it much.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/search.do?cat=Hand+Tools%2C+General+Purpose&vertical=TOOL&Filter=Type%7CScrew-out+sets%5E&displayTarget=Subcategory&subcat=Bolt-Out%2C+Taps+%26+Dies&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

 

Good luck!

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I know it's too late for you now fJ but for others, like me, who read all the posts, one tool that's very good to remove stubborn phillips head screws is a manual impact driver. It's about six or seven inches long, heavy, takes all kinds of screwdriver bits and is operated by striking it's butt with a hammer. Striking it while holding firmly in hands makes it turn a fraction of a revolution while preventing the bit from getting of the screw head's indentation and rounding it off.

I think you can get such a tool in most tool stores.

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Didn't try removing the FPR, but in my experience, with Phillips screws the quality of the drive bit matters at least as much as the quality of the screw. Impact tool is likely the best suggestion at this point. But watch out for sparks.

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The problem is, that in this location, there is no room for fancy tools, even if you remove air filter box and intake tubing. The cordless dremel cutter did wonders notching the head and the end of the screw, so I could use a short flat screwdriver (coupled to a mirror) to get that damned thing out.

 

Well, I put a new OEM FPR and the pressure is 40 psi with vacuum connected, 50 psi with vacuum disconnected. It should be 30-34/41-46 psi according to a manual. It used to be 42/52 psi with the old one i thought it was defective. WTF? I followed a factory manual for testing the pressure.

I don't think my gauge is defective. I just tested my Corolla and the pressure was in the range specified in Toyota (44-50 psi).

 

Does anyone have any experience with fuel pressure in 2000+ 2.5L H4 subarus?

Are the stock FPR defective or the factory specs incorrect?

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