I am trying to access the under back seat comparment that leads to the fuel filter. I have a 2002 Lexus ES300 which is pretty much a Camry. I have removed the back seat. Pried the lid off of the access compartment to fuel filter and pump. I have no problem taking of the connectors on the top of the assembly. There are about 10 phillips bolts around the entire top. All must have been put on with an air socket or something they are so tight. I have never changed the filter since I have owned the car (7 years). I have doused them now with WD40 in hopes it might allow me to turn them tomorrow afternoon. Any suggestions? I am stressing about this pretty bad. I could not get one of them loose. I know as soon as I get past them, I can finish the job.

Any ideas on how I might loosen those screws? Any help would be appreciated.

 

Don't stress.

If the screws are STUCK, suggest holding off on the job until getting the right tools or risk stripping out the screw head.

Search internet for "gripping Phillips head bit". These bits have grooves in the gripping face of the bit to prevent it from camming out. See link:

https://www.google.com/search?q=grip...hrome&ie=UTF-8

Then find the right size bit!

Pickup a hand held impact wrench. See link:

https://www.google.com/search?q=hand...hrome&ie=UTF-8

Get a decent impact wrench not junk like Harbor Freight.

If you don't have the impact wrench. Install the Phillips bit into a hex socket attached to a handled wrench (looks like a screw driver handle but attaches to 1/4 sockets. Apply downward force on the handle while you rotate the hex bit with a small box wrench that had been slipped over the hex portion of the bit.

 

That is exactly the kind of advice I was looking for. Thank you Toyomoho.