Importance of fuel filter replacement

Sunday I drove my 1998 Tacoma (2RZ-FE) a couple miles to my parent's house. When I went to leave their house half an hour later it was cranking but not starting. Today I had it towed to my mechanic. He diagnosed a failed fuel pump. Estimate to replace it is about $1,200.

He suggested I don't need to change the filter and said it would be another $350 to change the filter if I wanted to do that because it's in a difficult to access spot.

What do people here think? I'm worried that if I don't replace the filter I'm risking having another failed pump.

Thanks for any feedback you might have!

 

WTF, $1200 for fuel pump change. $200 in part and $1000 in labor for a 2-3 hour job?

Bring it to me and I’ll change the pump and filter for a discount, $1000. Lol

You need a new mechanic IMO

 

Seems steep, on both accounts. I changed the fuel pump with my new tank, and I took the bed off to do it. I don't acutely remember where the fuel filter is, but it should definetly be replaced with he pump and I'd bet its not that hard to get to, I think somewhere on the inside of the frame rail.

 

2/3rz is located under the manifold. Accessible by removing the driver tire

 

Fuel filters never hurt, its crazy for a mechanic not to make it a requirement with pump replacement.

It's possible its fine, but change it anyway.

Those pumps suck on older trucks simply because of rust.

 

Thanks for the feedback everybody!

Yeah the prices at this place keep going up. But I feel they are relatively reliable and trustworthy. Hard to know these days though for sure.

I'm hoping to do more repairs on my own with the truck but wasn't up to trying this one at the moment.

 

They are bending you over.

 

Geez, that seems pricey. I'm sure one of these mechanics on here that punches in at a shop everyday can give you actual "booktime" for this job.

 

Thanks again for the feedback! Found a YouTuber who recorded removing the fuel filter on a 1997 Tacoma. I think the filter is in the same location on the 1998. "Tucked underneath the intake manifold. One of the worst fuel filters to get to," he says.

https://youtu.be/3hXO2ph9XCY?si=PhzDAPQAhV3j0Jld&t=18

It does show taking the driver side tire off like @02hilux mentioned.

 

Bro's charging in 2045 pricing

 

You can handle the job. Just take your time. Plenty of posts here about it if you search. FWIW, while most say it’s a “lifetime filter” you may just find yours dirty. I found a decent amount of sediment in mine when I changed it at 150k on my 3RZ, same location as your 2RZ. Have read here where folks believe a dirty filter contributes to premature fuel pump failure. Makes perfect sense to me. Again, just take your time with it and use appropriate tools. Very doable.

 

Whoa, treat it like a job and you are getting paid $1k that day. Take the day off work, have nothing else on your agenda that day. Do the job right and you have $1k in your pocket.

 

was it an OEM pump from the dealership parts source, i can see that pump possibly costing 500$ at full MSRP

IIRC the quote i got at one time to drop/replace the tank was a bit over 3hrs book for the xtracab

 

some like my 2002 4cyl only have the filter in the pump. i dont think mine has an externally accessible filter. I searched the FSM and only saw the internal one.

 

This quote seems so high that you might as well get a quote from a Toyota dealership just to compare.

 

Huh, alldata has this job booked higher than I would think TBH, certainly in parts cost

 

Thank you for the intel!

 

Yeah, 3.5hrs seems steep to me having done a fuel pumps myself on these trucks in around 1.5hrs round trip. But the criminal part is charging $484 for an $86 pump

 

Exactly how did trustworthy shop diagnose FP????

 

484$ is close to what actual MSRP listed is from the yota dealerparts

Fuel Pump Assembly with Filter #23220-0C010 | Autoparts.toyota.com


is that 86$ pump you list sketch? or is it the Exact Same part in all ways shapes and forms, minus the fancy Toyota Genuine Parts box lol