2005 Mazda 3 Fuel Pump Replacement: Part 1 - Fuel Tank Removal

***PLEASE NOTE: THE EVAP LINE RELEASE TOOLS THAT I GO ON AND ON ABOUT IN THIS VIDEO ARE NOT 100% NECESSARY TO REMOVE THE EVAP LINES AFTER ALL! I MISUNDERSTOOD HOW THOSE CONNECTORS WORK.

IF YOU SQUEEZE THE TABS AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE BLUE CLIP ON THE EVAP LINE CONNECTOR AND PULL, THE HOSE WILL COME OFF AND THE BLUE RELEASE CLIP WILL STAY ON THE END OF THE NIPPLE.

HERE ARE THE OPTIONS:

1) IF YOU CAN SQUEEZE THE ENDS OF THE BLUE RELEASE CLIP WHILE PULLING THE HOSE OFF AT THE SAME TIME THEN YOU WON'T NEED THE RELEASE TOOLS. THIS MIGHT BE A CHALLENGE WITH ONE HAND SINCE THE EVAP LINES CAN BE PRETTY TIGHT.

2) YOU COULD LOWER THE BACK SIDE OF THE TANK ENOUGH TO GET ACCESS FOR BOTH HANDS TO REACH UP TO THE EVAP LINE. THEN, SQUEEZE THE ENDS OF THE BLUE CLIP WITH ONE HAND AND PULL THE HOSE OFF WITH THE OTHER HAND.

3) AT THE CHARCOAL CANISTER, YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO SEE IF YOU CAN SQUEEZE BOTH ENDS OF THE CLIP WITH ONE HAND WHILE PULLING UP ON THE HOSE WITH THE OTHER HAND.

4) IF THOSE OPTIONS DON'T WORK, MAKE AND USE THE TOOLS I MENTION. IF NOTHING ELSE, YOU KNOW THEY WORK PLUS THEY ALLOW YOU TO WORK WITH ONE HAND.

(Thanks to Eric O. for pointing out my oversight on how those clips actually work.)

This is a detailed procedure for the DIYer. If you need to replace the fuel pump on your Mazda 3 then you need to drop the fuel tank.

I show you how to prepare the vehicle and then how to remove the fuel tank from a 2005 Mazda 3 hatchback with the non-turbo charged 2.3L engine.

The removal of the tank may require the fabrication of two very simple and inexpensive release tools made from a plastic fuel line disconnect tool. Also, be warned that fuel and evap lines are tight to begin with and that on older cars they can be very hard to get off!

This is part one of a two part series regarding the replacement of the fuel pump. In part two I show how to remove and replace the fuel pump and then replace the tank and verify fuel pressure.