What is this fitting on the fuel line just before the fuel filter? How to remove it? I'm trying to drop my fuel tank. 2001 SR5. I already broke one plastic retaining clip trying to lift the hoses out of the "hose brackets". I can move the fitting back and forth a bit, and rotate a bit. If it cannot be removed, what is the next step to disconnect? Thanks.

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It's a your-weekend-now-sucks fitting. Looks like silicone tape and a zip tie. It should look like this, which you'd use a 10mm (or 12?) flare nut wrench on:

No picture, but I don't like where you're going with this.

Try this: https://i.postimg.cc/d1bVN5WJ/20220319-121221.jpg

You'll need to make sure the fuel system is de-pressurized first, then cut off the zip tie and tape and see what the damage is. It could be as simple as cleaning up the fitting and carefully threading it again, checking for leaks, and tightening more if needed. Or if they ruined it you'll need a new fitting hopefully just on one side, or possibly a new line. At a minimum you'd want to have some big zip ties and good quality self-fusing silicone tape lying around to re-patch the leak if you need to drive it any time soon after looking at the fitting. And a probably a fire extinguisher.

The good news is you discovered this and can properly address it. Those fuel filter fittings are always a ***** it shouldn't be too big of deal.

@repo I don’t think that’s the same area. Your picture is the fuel send and return lines, but the OP doesn’t show any bends or body in his photo. It looks like an evap line to me. If you zoom in on the black fitting you can see numbers.

@OP is there an opening or gap to the red clip or does it go all the way around?

Is that heading to the read of the vehicle? Does the red clip go all the way around or is there a gap?

Hmm it wont let me expand pics on my phone but I dont see anything else around the fuel filter that matches. I think it's the same area just a different angle. I looks like wraps of tape over that fitting to me. Mine always leaks when I've done it unless I tighten pretty hard and eventually it stops so I assume a lazy person just taped it.

Bad Luck I vaguely remember a plastic black/red connector you might be thinking of but it's to the fuel rail under the intake manifold. You have to disconnect it on the 1GR to remove valve cover, I dont think the 5VZ even has them.

Ok took another look and I'm sure it's that one. You can very easily just replace both of those very short lines on either side to fix it. One goes to front of tank, one goes to fuel filter. Might as well order a new fuel filter and the line bracket you broke while you're at it.

OP has an 01 which means his evap canister is in the rear. The red clip is part of a plastic evap connector which I think they started using whenever Toyota relocated the charcoal/evap canister to the rear. I haven’t looked at an 01 in person though to say for sure.

A buddy helped me finish this job. He has seen them before. It is some type of compression fitting. The red does not go all the way around. He popped it off and back on easily. It is about 18" - 24" before the fuel filter. Managed to zip tie the plastic "grommet" connector that holds this line and one other back to the metal bracket.

Well I have no idea what I'm talking about in that case. As usual

We were both wrong but you were a lot closer than me lol