Repair Topics / Fuel Injectors

Car Engine Fuel Injectors and Injector Drivers (ECM)

This category contains featured questions as examples. They relate to most vehicles.

Question : 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix mileage: 120,000. My car recently quit running I took it to the shop and they told me it was the fuel injectors I needed to replace all 6. Can you tell me why that could cause my car to stall out?

Answer: Yes, fuel injectors can make a car stall and not restart until you wait for a few minuets. What happen is the fuel injectors have electrical windings that short circuit sometimes. This shorts out the injector driver in the computer causing the car to stall until the fuel injectors are replaced.

Question: 1998 Subaru station wagon mileage: 22,500. The service department at the Subaru dealer is recommending that I clean the fuel injection system for $109, even though it isn't mentioned in the maintenance schedule in the owner's manual. I keep a car for 10-12 years, and the service technician says in order for the engine to last that long I need to clean the fuel injection system, preferable every 15,000 miles. Is this correct? I'm suspicious because the maintenance record in the owner's manual NEVER mentions cleaning the fuel injection system.

Answer: Cleaning the fuel injection system at 15,000 miles seems early. We suggest servicing this system at approximately 50,000. The mileage will vary depending upon driving conditions and the quality of gasoline used. Some of the major oil companies add a fuel injection cleaner to their gasoline. We have seen some cars with over 100,000 miles that have not had the fuel injection serviced and appear to be fine. If your car starts idling poor and losing mileage, you will need to have the system cleaned.

Question: 2001 Dodge 1500 mileage: 67,000. Where do I find info on test procedures for fuel injection? Test code shows a bad speed sensor, but the sensor itself tests good. The car is not getting any fuel but has correct fuel pressure to injectors . Can you tell us anything - if not, do you have suggestions where to look?

Answer: First check all electrical fuses, scan the PCM for trouble codes, then check fuel pump and fuel pump relay.

Question: 2003 Nissan Altima mileage: 65,000. About 20,000 miles ago I had #1 fuel injector replaced on my car. This August they replaced #2. I recently took my car in because my transmission is not shifting right and was told that my #1 fuel injector is bad again. They cannot find out about my transmission until the #1 fuel injector is replaced again! Another $550.00. What can be causing this and do I have any recourse. I have always made sure to put good gas in my car and had all the service it needed. Except they also told me, it is due for its 60,000 Service, which will be another $550.00.... I can't afford all of this...

Answer: What comes to mind is the possibility the fuel filter is letting sediment by which ends up plugging the fuel injectors. The #1 injector may be the first one on the loop. If the engine is not running properly, it would be difficult to diagnose transmission problems. The 60,000-mile service probably includes replacing the timing belt. Sorry we wish we could help you more.

Question: 2001 Chevrolet 1500 mileage: 74,000. Dear Sirs, My question is short - can I check and clean fuel injectors myself without special instruments? If yes, how can I do this? Thanks.

Answer: Special equipment is required for proper cleaning. It has been our experience that once fuel injectors have plugged they need to be replaced with new ones.

Question: 2002 Ford F-150 mileage: 61,000. I don't know much about cars, but from what I could tell I was not getting any fuel, because the car will start, for a few seconds when I pour gasoline, into what looks to me to be the injectors. Anyway, I replaced the fuel pump, which definitely was faulty. I am now getting fuel almost up to what looks like a injector. A gas line goes to each side of it, and the line in the front gets filled with fuel. (When I unscrew it, fuel squirts out with much pressure). My problem is the fuel doesn't go anywhere. Is it possible that I mixed up the lines when installing the new fuel pump? At present, I have the line that is pumping the gas attached so it will go through the fuel filter. Or could some small outlet (that is too small for me to see) be clogged, causing the fuel to be trapped in the line? All together, the car has 3 fuel lines coming from the gas tank. One goes to the front of the tank looking device, one goes to the the fuel canister. I apologize for my lack of knowledge and I hope I have explained the situation well enough for you to understand and help me.

Answer: It sounds like you have a fuel injector that have electrical windings that short circuited. This shorts out the injector driver in the computer causing the car to no start until the fuel injector is replaced.

Question: 2002 Nissan Maxima mileage: 85,000.  I recently took my car for service because it was idling rough and lost power.  The mechanic told me three of my fuel injectors were clogged and one is completely out of commission.  Should injectors go out on this car with this many miles?  Also, could using a fuel-injector cleaner have any results?

Answer: It is not uncommon for fuel injectors to fail @ 85,000 miles.  To prolong the life of new fuel injectors, you should change the fuel filter more often, about every 25,000 miles.  Using major brand gasoline will also prolong the life of fuel injectors.  Major brand gasoline's have fuel injection cleaner additives in the product, which is sufficient.

Question: 2005 Volvo V70 mileage: 20,000.  If a fuel injected car runs out of gas, will the engine be damaged?

Answer: Running out of gas should not damage the engine, however, if one were to keep trying to start the engine with no gas, the fuel pump may be damaged.

Question: 2002 Lincoln Town Car mileage: 55,000.  Engine code displays bad # 2 fuel injector...replaced the injector but after about two miles same misfiring and sputtering under acceleration.  What else is wrong?

Answer: The injector driver in the computer may be shorted and causing your computer code.

Question: 2002 Ford F-150 mileage: 40,000.   I am getting fuel in the oil. The truck is fuel injected of course.  It is not water, it is fuel.  Rail pressure is normal.  Pressure regulator has been replaced, no change.  It takes about three weeks for the level on the dipstick to rise about an inch.  I believe it to be an injector but which one.  It is costly to replace all of them.  The vehicle runs fine until the level gets to high on the dipstick.  Is this an injection problem and if so which one.  They all look fine on visual inspection.  We drained the oil and changed plugs and in about three weeks the same thing.  Also all cylinders have 150 psi.  Please help.

Answer:  You are right, there is an excellent chance that one of the fuel injectors or your fuel pressure regulator may be leaking fuel. Replacing a faulty fuel pressure regulator can help mileage considerably.

Question: 2001 S-10 Blazer  mileage: 77,000.  I am not getting fuel to the injectors. I have replaced the fuel relay located in the engine compartment.  I replaced the computer unit.  I used the noid test light on each injector connector.  I am getting no power to the connector.  I can prime the throttle body, and the engine starts and runs perfect.  After the car has run for about 20 minutes, if it is shut off, it has to be primed before it will start again.

Answer:  Check the fuel pump pressure when the engine dies. Chances are when the car dies the fuel pressure is to low to run, replace the fuel pump to recheck system.

Question: 2002 Honda Accord mileage: 27,354.  I am finally starting to have problems with my car. I now have an external leak on one fuel injector.  Although it's a small one I must repair it immediately. My question is: Is this a fix I can do myself with a good selection of tools and a decent mechanical background, or would it require a professional shop to do the fix?  Your opinion would be appreciated.

Answer:  The repair is relatively easy, replace the fuel injector then recheck system for leaks.

Repair Topics / Fuel Injectors

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