Fuel Pressure Regulator leaking on 97 V6 Bird

**mike171562** · 03-26-2012, 07:26 AM

My DD is a 97 V6 3.8, for a while its been hard to start in the morning I always have to crank if for about 5 seconds. I suspected the fuel pump, but yesterday I pulled the vacuum line off the regulator and there was gas in it. From this I gather the regulator is bad.

I'm reading online that the Fuel Rail has to come out to replace the regulator, has anyone ever done this without pulling the entire rail?, There isnt alot of room back there, but I can get my hands on it.

**flybird** · 03-26-2012, 07:37 AM

This happened to me on my 99 3.8.... Fuel regulator went out. Shop I took it too they said thwy pulled the fuel rails off.

Smittro will know more. He's the v6 man.

**Smittro** · 03-26-2012, 10:27 AM

Whole rail has to be replaced.. The regulator is part of the fuel rail and does not come off.

**Smittro** · 03-26-2012, 10:33 AM

**mike171562** · 03-27-2012, 05:32 AM

Smitro, The Regulator can be replaced, i bought one yesterday. It is held in with a snap-ring. I tried to get it out last night, but I wasnt able to get the snap ring out. Heres a pic of the new part and the backside of the regulator on the car.

**mike171562** · 03-27-2012, 09:02 AM

I would still be interested in hearing how anybody got that snap ring off

**Smittro** · 03-27-2012, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by mike171562

Smitro, The Regulator can be replaced, i bought one yesterday. It is held in with a snap-ring. I tried to get it out last night, but I wasnt able to get the snap ring out. Heres a pic of the new part and the backside of the regulator on the car.

WOW! I did'nt know that! Prolly need a set of snap-ring pliers for that one.

Thanks for the info!

**mike171562** · 03-29-2012, 05:49 AM

Just an update, I got the new regulator in and the car runs much better and is holding fuel pressure. To anyone trying this, it can be done without removing the fuel rails, It is difficult because the snap ring holding the regulator in is facing the firewall.

I did unbolt the coil packs and move them out of the way to get a little more room.

I had to get a small mirror and prop it up so i could see what i was doing, I used pair of small snap-ring pliers with a 90 degree angle on the ends working with one hand. The hardest part of it is getting that snap ring out, the rest is easy.