How do I remove the filter to clean it?

Fuel Filter Removal & Installation 2002-2004 To Remove:
NOTE: If a fuel filter is restricted, clean and inspect the inside of the fuel tank.

1. Relieve the pressure in the fuel system.
2. Lift the vehicle.
3. If necessary, remove the fuel tank shield from the frame.
4. Make sure the fuel pipe and hose connections, as well as the surrounding areas, are clean.
5. Disconnect the fuel pipes from the fuel filter; keep the retaining clips with the filter.
6. To avoid fuel loss and fuel system contamination, cap off the fuel pipes. Fuel filter removal and installation
   
   
7. Remove the screw from the fuel filter bracket.
8. Remove the fuel filter from the fuel filter bracket.

To Install:

1. Install the fuel filter into the fuel filter bracket.
2. For vehicles with a 4.2L engine, install the screw into the fuel filter bracket. Torque the screw to 13 in-lb (1.5 Nm).
3. For vehicles with a 5.3L engine, install the screw into the fuel filter bracket. Torque the screw to 106 in-lb (12 Nm).
4. Uncap the fuel pipes.
5. Connect the fuel pipes to the fuel filter.
6. Turn on the ignition for 2 seconds, with the engine off, and then turn off the ignition. After 10 seconds, turn the ignition back on with the engine off.
7. Check for leaks in the fuel lines.
8. Lift the vehicle.
9. If previously removed, install the fuel tank shield to the frame.
10. Lower the vehicle.

The problem likely is the cutter/chopper filter.
1. Remove bottom basket. Remove top basket (Pop off 'keepers' at the ends of the slidding shelf supports).
2. Remove bottom washing arm. Unscrew (Gently but firmily) centre post. Lift arm assembly out.
3. Remove overhead conduit. One screw at back and one at top (Philips #2 screwdriver bit). Rotate whole assembly 45 deg to the right (Clockwise) and lift off of centre post It can then be taken apart to clean.
4. Remove centre post (Pull straight up) Remove 4 screws (Star T-20 screwdriver bit). Lift whole plastic assembly out. Pop off the screen (Flat blade screwdriver around the edge) and clean.
5. Remove cap over cutter/chopper. There is a single screw at left front (Under the just removed centre assembly). Remove (Star T-15 screwdriver bit) screw and cap (Needs a bit of wiggling to get it free). Remove cutter and filter ( a stainless steel disc with many holes in it). Tt is on a spring loaded pin. Pull the cutter blade foreward and lift the filter straight up. Clean thoroughly. I then ran a 'quick rinse' cycle with everything out, to clean the inside.
6. Reassemble - Good luck! This worked for me.

This is a 5 step process.
1 Remove bottom basket. Remove top basket (Pop off 'keepers' at the ends of the slidding shelf supports).
2. Remove bottom washing arm. Unscrew (Gently but firmly) the centre post. Lift arm assembly out.
3. Remove overhear conduit. There is one screw at the back and one at the top (Philips #2 bit). Rotate the whole assembly 45 deg right (Clockwise) and lift off of the centre post. It can be taken apart to clean.
4.Remove centre post (Pull straight up). Remove 4 screws (Star T-20 bit). Lift the whole plastic assembly out. Pop off the screen (Flat blade screwdriver around the edge) and clean.
5. Remove cap over cutter/chopper. There is a single screw at the front left (Under center assembly just removed). Remove screw (Star T-15 bit) and cap (Needs some wiggling to free it up). Remove cutter & filter. It is on a spring loaded pin. Pull the cutter blade foreward and then the filter disc up. Clean thoroughly. Run a 'quick rinse' cycle with everything out, to clean the inside.
Reassemble.

The problem is probably that the chopper/cutter filter is pluged. It needs to be cleaned
1. Remove bottom basket. Remove top basket (Pop off 'keepers' at the ends of the slidding shelf supports.
2. Remove bottom washing arm. Unscrew (Gently but firmly) the centre post. Lift arm assembly out.
3. Remove overhead conduit. One screw at back and one at the top (Philips #2 bit). Rotate the whole assembly 45 deg to right (Clockwise) and lift off of the centre post. It can then be taken apart and cleaned.
4, Remove centre post (pull straight up). Remove 4 screws (Star T-20 bit). Lift whole assembly out. Pop off the screen (Flat blade screwdriver around the edge) and clean.
5. Remove cap over cutter/chopper. There is a single screw at front left (Under assembly remover in 4. Remove screw (Star T-15 bit) and cap (Needs some wiggling to free it up). Remove cutter & filter. It is on a spring loaded pin. Pull the cutter blade foreward and lift the filter disc straight up. Clean thoroughly. I then ran a 'quick rinse' cycle with everything out.
Reassemble.

The problem is likely that the cutter/chopper filter is plugged. This reduces or eliminates water flow to the cleaning arms.
Solution:
Remove dish baskets
Remove bottom arm - Rotate the centre post until arm is free to be lifted out.
Remove conduit to top arm(s) - Remove 2 screws, one at top and one at back. Rotate whole conduit 45 deg right and lift off of centre post.
Remove bottom plastic assembly. - Remove 4 screws and lift off.
Remove cutter cap. - Remove 1 screw at front left. Lift off plastic cap. Remove cutter filter. It is on a spring loaded pin. Pull cutter blade foreword and lift filter disc straight up. Clean filter disc thoroughly
Reassemble!

I have a Quiet Guard 4. Same problem so will describe my solution.
1. Remove bottom basket. Remove top basket.
2. Remove bottom washing arm. Unscrew (Gently but firmly) the centre post. Lift arm assembly up and out.
3. Remove overhead conduit. One screw at back, one at top (Philips #2 bit). Rotate whole assembly 45 deg right (Clockwise) and lift off of centre post.
4. Remove centre post (Pull straight up). Remove 4 screws (Star T-20 bit). Lift whole assembly out. Pop off screen and clean.
5. Remove cap over cutter/chopper. There is a single screw at front left (under assembly removed in 4). Remove screw (Star T-15 bit) and cap (Needs some wiggling to free it up). Remove cutter and filter. It is on a spring loaded pin. Pull the cutter blade foreward and then the filter disc straight up. Clean thoroughly as it may be the cause of your problems.
Reassimble. Good luck!

You are right. The plastic screw needs to be removed. I have a Quiet Guard 4. My procedure is as follows:
1. Remove baskets. Need to pop off the 'keepers' at the ends of the top slidding shelf supports.
2. Remove bottom washing arm. Unscrew (Gently but firmly) the centre post. Lift arm assembly out.
3. Remove overhead conduit. One screw at back, one at top.= (Philips #2 bit). Rotate whole assembly 45 deg right (Clockwise) and lift off of centre post.
4. Remove centre post (Pull straight up). Remove 4 screws (Star T-20 bit). Lift the whole plastic assembly out. Pop off the screen and clean,
5. Remove cap over cutter/chopper. There is one screw at the left front (Star T-15 bit). Remove screw and cap (Needs some wiggling to free it up). Remove cutter and filter (this is the water blocking problem). It is on a spring loaded pin. Pull the cutter blade foreward and lift the filter disc straight up. Clean thoroughly. I ran a 'quick rinse' cycle with everything out to chean the inside.
Reassemble.
Hope there is enough of a similarity to be helpful.

Your broblem is probably the cutter/chopper filter. This is located under the bottom cleaning arm assembly.
Remove the baskets.
Remove the bottom washing arm. Unscrew the centre post and lift off the arm
Remove the conduit to the top arm(s). Remove screw at top and at back. Rotate the conduit assembly 45 deg right and lift off.
Remove 4 screws (Star T-20 bit) and lift whole assembly out. Pop off screen and clean.
Remove cap over cutter/chopper. There is one screw at left front under assembly just removed. Remove it and the plastic cap (Needs some wiggling to free it up). Remove the cutter and filter. It is on a spring loaded pin. Pull in foreward and also lift the filter disc up and out. Thoroughly clean the filter.
Reassemble

Possible problem is that the chopper/cutter filter is plugged. This prevents water circulation and therefor no water is available for cleaning.
Solution:
Remove the dish baskets.
Remove the bottom cleaning arm - Rotate the centre post and the arm can then be removed.
Remove the conduit that feeds the upper arm(s) - Remove screws, one at the back and one at the top. Rotate the whole assembly 45 deg right and lift off of the centre post.
Remove 4 screws in the plastic assembly and lift it off of the centre.
Remove 1 screw at left front (Under assembly just removed). Lift off the plastic cap which covers the cutter/chopper. Remove the chopper. It is on a spring loaded pin. Pull the cutter foreword while lifting the filter disc straight up. Thoroughly clean the filter disc - a knife will be req'd to scrape in clean.
Reassemble in reverse to the disassembly steps.

The fine fitler screws out by twisting the entire unit counter-clockwise. The threads are built into the filter unit itself. There are no screws to remove. Hope this helps.