Found out my #1 injector is bad. The misfire I had complained about was seemingly unrelated to LIM or UIM gaskets, but now I'm in a pickle. I had plans to drive 3 hours from college to get home for the Thanksgiving week, and the dang injector doesn't seem like it'* going to kick back in anytime soon. The repair shop that scanned the car advised against making the drive on 5 cylinders, but I'd like to get the car home to work on it myself (they want $200 to do the replacement). So the question: Should I drive home and do the job myself, or is it worth it to protect the motor and let them swap it out?

Follow up: if I do the job myself, should I get a new or used injector? Will fuel delivery be inconsistent with 5 originals and one replacement? Should I just get a whole new fuel rail assembly from a junkyard and throw it in there? Thanks.

Would you advise in favor or against driving home with the car currently misfiring... I PM'd Rogue to ask him, he thought maybe the injector was just dirty and didn't recommend a 3 hour trip at highway speeds in the car'* current condition. It could be dirty, but it has thrown the misfire code intermittently for the last two weeks and now seems to be totally shot. It seems to point more toward failure, doesn't it? I don't mean to discredit Rogue, but I forgot to give him all the details and I want some additional opinions. What are some consequences of driving with one of the cylinders dry firing?

I say, you know whats wrong. Fix it before the trip. $200 to save other problems and assaches down the road isnt that bad.

Jay

Tell me about it.... (See my "Dude. What a trip" post in the lounge)

My fuel rail came out with some needle nose pliars and a deep13mm socket. That'* it. I say pull the rail, buy the cheapest injector you can find, drive home, and replace the whole rail, or all the injectors from one with low miles. This way you aren't running on 5 cylinders, you can get home, and in the end it will probably cost $200, but you will know that what you have in there is of good quality, and that they will somewhat match. Just my opinion.


-justin

Well guys, I took in all your advice..... and then I drove home anyway! Lol, it may not have been the smartest idea, but I got on the phone with my Thunderbird pal and his dad (who works a dirt Late Model pit crew) and they told me to unhook the plug wire to the bad cylinder and bring her home. So here I am back in Muscatine, but I need more advice about a course of action.

I'd really like to replace all 6 injectors, but if I buy new ones it'll put me in the hole pretty good. Would a lower-mileage rail/injectors assembly from a junk yard be okay? Or should I get brand new stuff? I'm thinking junkyard unless there'* reason to think otherwise. What do I need to look for? An assembly for my specific year and application, or is there a range of years I can use? I'd also like to upgrade to an SSEi injector or equivalent if possible, but only if they'll bolt up without any other complicated modifications. Also, if any of you think its only necessary to change out the bad one I'd like to hear your say-so. Thanks for all the help and responses.

Why do you want to spend money you don't have? Why do you want to replace 5 old (but working) injectors with 5 old (working) injectors? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Just replace the bad one.

Duly noted. My point in asking is to merely find out if replacing the bad one will get me by or if this is a prime opportunity to do some preventative maintenance. Yes, I'm a student and cash is tight, but it would be worth the money if I can swap in some good injectors that won't give me a problem for another two years.

Please let me know what some of the rest of you think. I'd like to make a wise decision here, whether it'* changing all the injectors or just one of them.

EDIT: I read this thread a few days ago, about the power to the injector being fine but the injector drive in the PCM being bad. http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...ic.php?t=18836. I think I may investigate this possibility before replacing the injector. Any thoughts?[/url]

By the way, Ranger, I mean no disrespect. I appreciate the fact that you took time to give your advice.

2 years?? dude, my injectors have lasted 16 years, and I am going to get another 10 out of them, easy.. they may not flow more than 1lb/hr, but nonetheless, they will still work. It is very rare for an injector to fail, however, since you mention that post.. that could also be your problem. Try to get a new PCM, shouldn't be too expensive, and even if it doesn't fix the problem, having a spare is always good.


-justin