Fuel Injector Replacement Cost
Know what price you should pay to get your vehicle fixed.
What is a fuel injector?
Once fuel arrives at the engine, most modern vehicles distribute the fuel to individual fuel injectors that regulate the amount of fuel used for each engine cycle.
How does the fuel injector work?
Pressurized fuel is sent into the engine using fuel injectors. Each time an intake stroke occurs in the engine, the vehicle's computer will end a signal to fuel injectors, requesting they spray fuel. For heavy acceleration, the duration of the fuel spraying will be longer than if the engine were idling. Fuel injectors spray fuel into the cylinders in the same fashion as a household cleaner spray bottle, except that they are electronically actuated.
Based on calculations made by the on-board fuel injection control computer, the fuel injector injects a precise amount of gas into the engine. The computer analyzes the outside air temperature, the amount of air being drawn into the engine, the temperature of the engine, and many other parameters before deciding exactly how much gas to inject into the engine.
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What are the symptoms related to a bad fuel injector?
When a fuel injector fails or clogs, the engine suffers from fuel starvation, power is reduced, and misfires occur. These conditions may be intermittent, sudden, or increasingly worse. The check engine light will illuminate on the instrument cluster, and the fuel deliver system will be suspected based on the various on-board diagnostics trouble codes that are stored in the vehicle's memory. As the issue progresses, the engine may being to stall immediately after starting, fail to start, hesitate under throttle, or vibrate roughly.
Can I drive with a fuel injector problem?
It is not advisable to drive a vehicle with a fuel injector issue. A vehicle that stalls every few moments, and accelerates unpredictably is a hazard. The vehicle may also be impossible to drive, since the fuel cannot reach the engine. Also, lean operating conditions produce very high heat, and can damage internal engine and exhaust components.
How often do fuel injectors need to be replaced?
On average, fuel injectors tend to fail after 80,000 miles, and require little maintenance during normal scheduled maintenance. To prolong the life of the fuel injectors, follow the scheduled maintenance intervals for cleaning the fuel delivery system and injectors.
Costs for Related Repairs
How are fuel injector issues diagnosed?
If fuel delivery system symptoms are present, the technician will first conduct a visual inspection of the vehicle, and note any observed issues related to the fuel delivery system. If the fuel delivery system issue is not clear after a physical inspection, the servicing technician will connect a computerized scanner to the vehicle, and examine current conditions that are being reported by the various sensors in the vehicle. The stored OBD codes will provide information and direction for which components to inspect further. In the case of the fuel injector, the technician would most likely find that misfires are happening frequently on one engine cylinder. Once the technician suspects the fuel injector, the fuel injector(s) in question must be tested, and may require removal for further bench testing. When the round of testing is complete, any failed component must be replaced, and the vehicle will be tested to ensure the customer complaint does not return.
Fuel Injector Replacement Cost Estimates
The average cost for a Fuel Injector Replacement is between $642 and $1671 but can vary from car to car.
How is a fuel injector replaced?
Most modern vehicles require the intake manifold to be removed to replace the fuel injectors. This can be a large job that may involve draining the engine coolant and engine oil, removing many engine components, and replacement of the intake manifold gasket. Many vehicles, however, are designed with plastic intake manifolds that do not have oil passages or coolant passages, and are much faster and more cost effective to remove and reinstall. Once access is available, the fuel injector is disconnected from the fuel rail and electrical connector, and removed. Replacement is the reverse.
RepairPal Recommendations for fuel injector issues
When replacing fuel injectors, using the OEM fuel injectors is the best choice for most applications, and this is especially true when replacing only one or two fuel injectors. Keeping the injectors the same will ensure even power across the engine, and proper air/fuel mixture for all cylinders. This should result in a smooth running engine.
What to look out for when dealing with fuel injector issues
Fuel plays a large role in the health of an engine, and fuel system. It is best to ensure you are adding fuel of the appropriate grade for your engine, according to the instructions in the owner's manual. When working with fuel, the battery should always be disconnected, and proper precautions taken against fire hazards.
Can I replace the fuel injector myself?
Fuel injector replacement should be left to a professional in most cases. The risk of fire due to electrical components and fuel in close proximity is enough by itself, but this repair can turn very complicated. A good amount of knowledge goes into removing the injectors, intake manifold, fuel rail, and other components, and attempting without knowledge of these components could lead to injury or vehicle damage.