The procedure is much easier to perform with an empty fuel tank, which may have a drain plug for this purpose; if not, drain the fuel into an approved container using a siphoning kit, avoiding mouth siphoning, or wait until the tank is nearly empty. Begin by removing the fuel tank filler cap to relieve pressure, then detach the cable from the negative terminal of the battery, ensuring you have the activation code for any anti-theft stereo system. If fuel remains, drain it from the fuel filler hose after raising the vehicle, or remove the drain plug if available. Securely raise the vehicle on jack stands, then remove screws from the top of the fuel filler neck and disconnect it from the vehicle body, noting that some models may have bolts and nuts instead. Disconnect the fuel lines and vapor return line, labeling them if necessary to simplify reattachment, and plug the hoses to prevent leakage. Loosen the hose clamp(s) to detach the fuel filler neck from the tank, siphoning out any remaining fuel from the feed port using a siphoning kit. If equipped, remove the protective shield from the tank, then support the tank with a floor jack, using wood to protect it. Disconnect the fuel tank retaining straps and lower the tank enough to disconnect the wires and ground strap from the
Fuel Pump/fuel gauge sending unit before removing the tank. For models with an auxiliary fuel tank, removal is similar but involves bolts around the flange instead of straps. Installation follows the reverse order of removal.