Under car fuel line mount retainers - How To?

[Huw Powell]

> I'm thinking of cleaning and painting, with Por 15, the fuel lines that sit
> in the rubber mounts under the car . . .before they rust thru and leak.
> 
> I want to take apart these fuel line retainers . . .those rubber thingies
> with the stainless steel wraparound fastener.
> 
> I took a couple apart on my 4k, but was never able to put them back together
> again. The rubber exerted too much tension to get the steel ends to engage.
> 
> Is there a special tool or trick to get those closed and locked again?

First, I am tempted to warn you that all that physical manipulation of 
the fuel lines may very well *make* them spring a leak or three, 
assuming you are somewhere "up here" in the salt/rust belt.

Second, I have messed with them a bit, actually replaced the pressure 
line with a good used one once on a coupe.  As I recall, it's mostly a 
matter of using a good strong pick type tool, using it to reach through 
the slot and catching the tab, then levering the slot over the tab and 
popping the tool out in such a way that the tab catches in the slot.  it 
may take a few tries to get the process down - might be worth doing the 
"learning curve" on something that doesn't matter, in order to minimize 
abuse of the lines you're using.

Also, if you suspect your fuel lines might be in rough shape (not just 
some surface rust - and they're always worse under those holders!), you 
should be able to get new, pre-bent ones through a dealer.  I know 4k 
and coupe ones were still available a couple of years ago (about $300 
for both pressure and return).

-- 
Huw Powell

http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi

http://www.humanthoughts.org/