Front center fuel injector replacement

bigb007 · 11-04-2009, 08:33 PM

So one of my fuel injectors died today. I went to start the car tonight and it ran really rough and had a check engine light. It was code 51- fuel injector circuit open. So, I used my trusty DMM to ohm out the injectors. Sure enough, the front center injector measured open.

I have searched the forums, and have found that the front injectors are supposed to be quicker and easier to replace. Some say my front center injector can be done in 20 minutes.

My question is: How do I replace the front center injector in 20 minutes as claimed?

Thanks in advance for your replies!

bigb007 · 11-04-2009, 08:38 PM

Also, will it damage anything running with a bad injector?

*CapedCadaver* · 11-04-2009, 09:08 PM

maybe on a 4th gen or a VE, you could do it that quick, but not on a VG, due to the way the intake sits. it's a couple-hour job, IF you've done it before, or a day job if you haven't.

anyways you can sortof damage stuff by running without that injector, since your air/fuel feedback is gonna be totally wrong which will cause you to run rich on the other 5 cylinders, plus it's very unbalanced right now which certainly isn't good for your motor mounts.

bigb007 · 11-04-2009, 09:15 PM

So should it be ok to drive it to work for a day or two (30 miles a day)?

*CapedCadaver* · 11-04-2009, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigb007

So should it be ok to drive it to work for a day or two (30 miles a day)?

yea i mean it won't kill the car overnight, but it's best to fix the problem sooner rather than later

richkcmo · 11-05-2009, 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapedCadaver

yea i mean it won't kill the car overnight, but it's best to fix the problem sooner rather than later

yep! i agree on this.

Stwodahorty · 11-05-2009, 10:06 AM

mines went bad too. was shaking like crazy. basically i was running on only 5 cylinders, and its not stable. maybe stable enough to get to the mechanics to get it fixed.

*CapedCadaver* · 11-05-2009, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stwodahorty

mines went bad too. was shaking like crazy. basically i was running on only 5 cylinders, and its not stable. maybe stable enough to get to the mechanics to get it fixed.

you can't complain until you've been on 3 cylinders like i was earlier this year.... 1st gear feels like 3rd.

1993-VG30E-GXE · 11-05-2009, 12:16 PM

No way 20 minutes. It'll take you the whole day to do it the first time. You'll need to label everything when you remove the hoses and wires so you know how to put it back. From what I remember:

RELEASE FUEL PRESSURE
DISCONNECT BATTERY
REMOVE AIR TUBE
REMOVE EGR FLARE TUBE SWIVEL NUT & ASSEMBLY
REMOVE APPROPRIATE VACUUM & WATER HOSES
REMOVE APPROPRIATE ELECTRICAL HARNESSES
REMOVE ASCD & ACCL CONTROL BRACKET & MOVE WIRE
REMOVE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD COLLECTOR (PLENUM)
DISCONNECT FUEL SEND & RETURN HOSES
REMOVE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD COLLECTOR
REMOVE FUEL RAIL

Other stuff I missed is in the Cylinder Head Removal & Installation section of the service manual.

*300zmax* · 11-07-2009, 07:37 AM

3 hours my first time, just take you time. the worst is the EGR tube (dont break it) the next is the coolent lines.

Get new rubber fuel line since you will have it apart. you gas mileage wil love you for it. also do not forget to change the injector o-ring. my 89 se parts car was pouring out gas.

nismax1994 · 11-07-2009, 01:15 PM

How much would a shop charge for this repair?

*CapedCadaver* · 11-07-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nismax1994

How much would a shop charge for this repair?

to install that injector they would probably charge at least 4-6 hours labor... so a few hundred$

maxinout93 · 11-08-2009, 12:19 AM

The first time it took me about 3 or 4 hours, the second time it only took me about 2 hours. Its real easy once you do one time. The shops around here wanted to charge from $120 up to $200 just to replace one injector, and not including the parts.

nismax1994 · 11-08-2009, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxinout93

The first time it took me about 3 or 4 hours, the second time it only took me about 2 hours. Its real easy once you do one time. The shops around here wanted to charge from $120 up to $200 just to replace one injector, and not including the parts.

Thats really not too bad. This concerns my 'parts car' which I've decided to restore for the time being. I have so many little problems between both cars I dunno what to do next

ve30max · 11-08-2009, 01:54 PM

You might try cleaning the injector once removed to see if it is still usable. They aren't the cheapest things around. Or, better yet, see if a shop in your area has an injector cleaning machine. From what I can figure, it is a mechanical set up that pumps a cleaning solvent through the injectors, via engaging the injectors in a continuous pulse, which could fix the one bad one and perhaps be a good preventative measure for the others.

I paid a shop to clean my injectors on my car. I am skeptical of this claimed procedure and was narrow minded at the time. If they did what they were supposed to, they hooked up a machine which pumped a cleaning solvent through the feed and return lines going to the injectors. I am even more unsure as to whether or not they engaged the injectors to provide flow so as to clean the inside of them. Beyond the skepticism I have for the claimed procedure they supposedly did, how would they have let the solvent out of cylinder/pre-valve intake outlet (if the valve(s) was/were closed)?? I apologize for any misused names for parts/components.

I paid them up front like a jerk off and was unable to tell if there was any evidence of their work on the gas lines..................

Good luck with whichever route you take! The job is really easy once the intake is off, and all of the hoses attached to it usually stay in place without having to label (my most time consuming activity when under the hood).