HELLLLLPP!! Oil filter disaster 440/1.9 TD

[rustyold440]

Update from after a couple of hours knuckle grazing.

Those clips on the water cooler pipes... they are not normal jubilee clips with screws are they?? Oh, no that would be too easy. Nope they are the fit-once-and-forget type. Great, so that didn't go so well. After trying to get the damn things off by keyhole surgery through the grill, they mangled. I tried to hacksaw but, again with keyhole surgery, it is nigh on impossible. Eventually after two hours fruitless fighting with these stupid clips, I sliced straight through both pipes with a stanley knife, I can always join new ones on if I ever get to the re-assembly stage.

I made my wooden filterbase extraction tool, which worked very well. Unfortunately it does get a good grip on whats left of the filter. Enough to twist the whole lot, oil cooler as well until it hit the sensor at 11' oclock and would turn no more.

So sprayed in some WD40 and broke out the sockets to remove the sensor. I have two long reach sockets, neither of which fit.

Is nothing straightforward on this garlic-ruined heap of an engine ? If I get the sensor out will it just hit the bracket at 7'o clock and give me more work to do? I've given up for now, as I would like to be left with some weekend.

Seriously considering having the whole thing towed away and out of my sight. NOT pleased with how my small service is turning out!!