Cleaning Fuel Injectors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[fastpakr]

I didn't realize that EEC-IV could datalog. Was that on all years, or just towards the end?

 

[low_five]

it wants to backfire. i will get a test light and connect it to the plug and see.
but we were also wondering if somekind of rodent made a nest in the converter from the engine to the muffler, and they clogged it up if that would make the problem of not starting also. i am gonna prob take it off and check anyways

this happened to my dad. the rats stuffed a pound and a half of almonds in the muffler and they plugged it.

the symptom was you could pull ONE spark plug and the engine would run... barely... with all the exhaust for the entire engine exiting through the spark plug hole.

drove him insane trying to figure out why it would do that.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

most 90's EEC-IV vehicles will datalog.

 

[97ranger4x4]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but i have a quick question reguarding my 4.0 I recently starting having a misfire in cyl 1. It happend right after I ran through a tank w/ Fuel injector cleaner. I pulled the spark plug this morning and it looked perfectly fine. I made sure that all the plugs were seated right and they were.

I am wondering if somehow running fuel injector cleaner caused one of the injectors to get plugged with something. It runs really bad upon startup and by the time it reaches operating temperature it still runs pretty bad at lower RPMs. After its been running for 25-30 min i cannot even tell its misfireing. I am pretty lost on what could be causing this problem to suddenly appear then go away then appear right back?

Thanks and sorry for the thread jack again.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

swap the #1 injector withanother and see if the misfire code moves to that cylinder. if it does, replace the injector.

 

[97ranger4x4]

Is there any easier way than that? Its a relativily large PITA for me to switch injectors since I dont have a spare vehicle to run around in. Also will the fuel rail to intake manifold gasket need to be replaced to do this? I replaced it a year or two ago when I did my lower intake manifold gaskets.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

#1 is on the passanger side, towards the front. IIRC, you can get to that injector bank without removing the plenum...

 

[97ranger4x4]

Really? How would you do that? Because when I replaced the gaskets, the plenum sits on top of the fuel rail which holds the fuel injectors into place. I could probably reach the fuel injector connector to test it to make sure its getting power. But I am pretty sure the fuel rail would have to come off to take the injector out.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

oh thats right, the 4.0 has that goofy fuel-rail-as-part-of-the-plenum thing going on.

ive spent too much time looking at my easy to work on 3.0

i doubt your problem is on the electrical side of the injectors. it sou8nds like a partially clogged injector that isnt supplying sufficient fuel under enriched cold stratagy. your two real suspects should be the fuel injector and the coil.

i would just swap the injectors. its worth the $5 in gaskets.

 

[Tedybear]

With the 2.9v6 on our bronco II we chased down quite a bit on mis-fires and just runing like garbage. Everyone said it was the ignition module...Sensor this..that...other...

Now I'm NOT dissing anyone for their help. In fact in many cases it's trial and error to figure out the root cause for issues. However let's keep in mind that each fuel injector has a micro-filter sock built into the end of it. Over time it's all to easy for even the tiny bits of crud and crust to build up in it. With ours? 2 plugged solid! We're talking just about no fuel getting to the cylinders at #1 and #2. Couldn't do a good job at timing the engine either, because cylinder #1 would fire inconstantly.

It's a little labor....under $8 bucks for the upper intake gasket..and a great eBay seller offers rebuild 'kits' for under $20 to do all 6 injectors. (I think ours was $16 shipped). Now we did have 2 injectors take a crap in the process, badly leaking. The eBay seller also sells "rebuilt" injectors for about $15 bucks a shot. With the cost some of the auto parts stores want for JUST ONE!! We replaced the two worst ones, and cleaned/installed new filters on the others for under $50 bucks.

The symptoms we did have included: Wandering timing when trying to set it, bogging down under even a slight load, and severe detonation under same load. Turns out all it was? Just two bunged up injectors starving #1, #2 cylinders for fuel. The rail also got "power washed" at the same time. Just removed all the injectors and hosed the batcrap out of it with carb spray. It was disgusting the crap that came out of it...All a bunch of crap that was extremely "fine"..but get enough of it stuck in the filters? It can really throw you for a loop.

I'm just saying it's worth checking into when all else fails to yield results. Just about everything we threw at ours to fix it? Thankfully would also be considered part of a good maintenance program. (the guys name online for his store is Mr.Injector)

S-

 

[97ranger4x4]

So I was looking at RockAuto today and I can get motorcraft injectors for $41 each. Can I get away with just doing the one injector? I really really don't wanna spend $250 on 6 new injectors. I would like to just get one new one and try and clean/rebuild the old one and keep as a spare.

Let me know what you guys think because I will need to order these in the next day or two in order to have them here in the next weekend or two.

Also Wicked, what do you mean by "partially clogged injector that isnt supplying sufficient fuel under enriched cold stratagy."

 

[low_five]

enriched cold strategy means that when the engine is cold it sprays more fuel. similar to the choke on a carb.

Wicked thinks that one injector isnt spraying properly during cold idle, which is causing an imbalance and making it run rough. the reason why it wouldnt be evident at higher rpms is because any miss evens out at high RPMs.

 

[97ranger4x4]

Okay that makes sense because this issue goes away the warmer the truck gets. So in that case the only way to fix it would be to clean/rebuild the injector or replace it correct?

Also can I just replace the one?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

IF thats the problem then yes, replacing the bad injector is your best bet.

but you could also be having some sort of ignition system problem. theres even a chance you have a problem in the PCM.

without doing some actual diagnostic work on the truck, you wont know for sure. but if you'd rather go with the first thing someone you dont know on the internet suggested, then feel free to replace that injector. just dont blame me if you waste $40 and your problem persists

 

[97ranger4x4]

I understand. I just have a hard time thinking it can be anything other than an injector. I mean I put Fuel injector cleaner in my truck, and now I have one specific cylinder that is giving me a misfire. I do have a spare coilpack I think so I can toss that in there. I cant imagine it is a issue with the PCM.

I think my plan of attack will be to swap the coilpack, replace the fuel filter. if the problem persists, I will order a new injector and replace that. Clean the old one, and keep it as a spare.