Integrated fuel pump and fuel filter

A fuel filter assembly for the filtering of a flow of fuel includes an outer shell (21) defining a hollow interior (38) and, at a first end, a fuel inlet passageway (39), a fuel outlet passageway (40), and a water collection region (35). The outer shell has a second end which is open and constructed and arranged to be closed by a removable lid (22). Installed within the hollow interior of the outer shell is a fuel filter cartridge (23) which includes a filter element constructed and arranged for water separation. The filter element defines an interior space into which a fuel transfer pump (42) in installed and which is operable to push fuel through the filter element. Included as part of the fuel filter assembly is a filter detector control circuit including a normally-open filter detector switch (77) which is electrically and operably coupled to the fuel transfer pump. A plunger (78) on the filter detector switch must be depressed in order to close the circuit and enable operation of the fuel transfer pump. The plunger is depressed only upon the installation of the fuel filter cartridge, thereby preventing the delivery of fuel to a downstream location unless a fuel filter cartridge is properly installed. Also included as part of the fuel filter assembly is a fuel heater (30), a temperature sensor (33), a drain valve (32) and a diagnostic port (34).