want to change my fuel filter on my c280 1994.

I was going to :

Take out the fuel pump relay (the green one next to the tire-correct?)

Run it until it stalls out

Then disconnect the neg battery cable

Open fuel filler cap

Replace filter

Are these the correct steps? Working with gas makes me nervous, you know...since I could explode and all that. So I want to make sure I'm doing it exactly how I should.

Thanks in advance.
Great site by the way.

 

Not quite right, but almost.
I would recommend to have some garage replacing the fuelfilter. It is a very messy job. If you dont have a ramp forget it. If you have to do on your driveway or in the garage dont go for it.
But if want to it is how to do it:
*disconnect battery
*take off the cover from the pump/filter arrangement
*take a vise or some rigid clamp to block the fuel hoses to/from the filter
*you dont have to run the tank dry! There is still enough fuel in the tank even then do leak when the filter is taken out, so you need the clamps
*take out the filter and replace it by a new one
*I guess you dont need a gas mask, but you should be smoking (hahaha)

Again it's MESS, and mechanics really "like" it.

 

Haha, you really make a guy want to take it to a garage. I've done 'em before on other cars, and they are messy. I've got ramps, so I'll give this one a try. Thanks for your help.

PS taking the fuel pump relay won't take some of the fuel pressure out of the system?

 

The pressure is there no matter the relay has been taken out or. Since the pressure stays in the system even the car sits for days w/o driving. So the pressure is released when you open the system (part of the mess), and the clamps are important to reduce it, depending how tight they block the hoses.

 

OK, thank you for the info. (Off to the store to buy clamps).