Injector failure warning

[the_ape]

Hi chap's and chapet's

I've got a strange issue with my 53plate vRS, I get a dash warning come on, and when I check it with VagCom it reckons that I hav a failure on injector 1.

I took it to my local friendly dealer and they cleaned the injector for me, and it was fine, however it's come back again (after about 6 months).

What I would like to know is what the best way to go about diagnosing what the actual cause is? and can I clean the injector myself?

I've been quoted 400quid plus labour for replacing it (not an option really), if that's the case I'll just trade it in against another car, but I really like my vRS and wanted to keep it.

Any sugestions would be welcome.

[ric04vrs]

the wiring to the injectors can go faulty, so maybe check that first , although i would think there would be a misfire if the wiring or the injector was faulty,

has the engine got a misfire ?

[Neo_VR]

"Cleaned the injectors"

meaning they put one of those crappy injector cleaner solutions in the tank that Skoda reccomend not to use?

[the_ape]

yeah there is a misfire, but only after the engine gets to 2500 rpm. but after the misfire starts it doesnt stop.

i.e. if i drive and keep the engine below 2500 then no error, however if i venture over that then the misfire starts and happens at all revs.

very strange.

[ScoobyChris]

"Cleaned the injectors"

meaning they put one of those crappy injector cleaner solutions in the tank that Skoda reccomend not to use?

IIRC, they remove the injectors and use an ultrasonic device to clean them. Although, that may depend how optimistic you are

Chris

[Neo_VR]

Vagcom measurements should be able to show the duty cycle and fuel quantities that the injectors are injecting.. they should all be roughly the same..

misfire above 2500 sounds rather suspisious though.. if an injector was dying/dead it would run like a bag o spanners all the time

[tonto kowalski]

Assuming the car needs an injector, is that reason enough to consider getting rid of it?

The cost of a trade in would be more than the cost of an injector.

[ric04vrs]

i'd try the loom first before the injector , approx £65 for the loom , just a bit of job to fit

[the_ape]

I was thinking it may be electrical, reason being if you pull over after the problem starts and shut the engine off, then restart it sometimes the issue disapears.

The reason I said I would swap it, is I have been thinking of swapping, but trying to wait till the new Scirocco get's released.

Anyone got an idea how ad what to strip down so I can get a look at the injector/s and it might be something simple.

Cheers for all the advise so far btw.... Oh and if it is a failed injector, I could always get larger replacement's and tune it a little

[fireman]

why not swap the injector for another first then road test it see if the fault follows the injector or the loom. Could put you on the right road to fixing it

[ric04vrs]

just to warn you , removal and fitting of injectors requires quite a few specialist tools and knowledge of how to do the job

[Neo_VR]

just to warn you , removal and fitting of injectors requires quite a few specialist tools and knowledge of how to do the job

Refitting is reverse of removal

[the_ape]

Ok, might not try remove/refit them myself if it's going to require special tools. However is it fairly easy to actually get to them and eyeball them? If it's just an electrical fault it may be easy to see first hand.

Saying that it's got worse, seems to happen every start now from the off, hmmm, would running some injector (PD approved) through it clear it out? (doubting it).

Also has anyone run the uprated injectors that a few people advertise? if so what's your thought's on them?

[ric04vrs]

you will need to check the resistance of the wiring going to each injector , its nottoo difficult to do once the rocker cover is off

[the_ape]

What should the resistance be at (roundabout)?

[ric04vrs]

What should the resistance be at (roundabout)?

resistance or continuity of the wiring , don't know what the figures should be , but your basically trying to find out whether the wiring is ok to each injector , the connectors can give problems at the injector

[the_ape]

Kewl, I'll go out armed with the multi meter.... see what I can see.

[the_ape]

Wow, just been trying to get the Rocker Cover off, and that's going to be a job and a half! all the piping routed round the back is in the way of the bolts!

Anyhow, I did go round and clean/grease all the electrical connectors, and also noticed that the fuel filter (think that's what it is, white thing in the bottom left of the engine bay) has actually got a dent in the bottom of it by the drain hole. Could that cause issues? i.e. one of the injectors being fuel starved?

[vokey]

If you dont know what the fuel filter looks like then you really are not up to playing with electrics and injectors, leave it alone before you really bugger something up.

[the_ape]

I was only supposing, as A - thats what it looked like, and B - I was only having a cursory glance.

Electrics are a doddle, as thats what I trained in after all, fuel systems however are not.

[the_ape]

I might just book it in, and get the valves uprated, and a nice re-map popped on, should hold me out until VW decide to release the Scirocco