As any car ages, it's relatively frequent to encounters fuel system problems and especially fuel injector related ones. With time, gunk and debris might build upon the tip of your car's injectors and prevent them from spraying fuel adequately into the cylinders. When it happens, they will need to be cleaned and your fuel system serviced. But what if the injectors turn out to have been damaged by the debris or you simply can't get all of the gunk off? The faulty injector(s) will then need to be replaced completely. If this is your case, you might be wondering how much such a job might cost you in the end. To help you with that, we've created this article covering everything you need to know about fuel injectors replacement cost as well as all that you'll need to know to replace them and get your car back on track in no time!
The Cost of Fuel Injectors
The price tags of injectors vary depending on the vehicle, and sometimes even between trim models of the same vehicle. Luckily, the cost of injectors on common family cars is usually fairly low. Injectors used on luxury cars, trucks, and performance vehicles, however, usually cost more and, sometimes, a lot more. Some owners of common cars, like the early 2000's Honda Civic may find replacement fuel injectors for as little as $100 for all four. Owners of Jaguar XJ8 Vanden Plas cars, on the other hand, may pay as much as $200 per injector for a total cost of $1,600.
Obviously, the engine configuration of your vehicle will also play a significant role in how big the price tag will get. Since most cars use one injector by cylinder, a Honda Civic owner will only have to buy 4 injectors while the owner of an 8-cylinder car will have to buy 8. That is, of course, if all the injectors are damaged - which is quite improbable. However, more injectors mean a higher risk of having one become faulty.
The cause of the problem can also help you estimate the end cost. If the problem was caused by bad fuel being injected in the system leading to gunk build-up, all injectors might be affected. It's also the same thing if the fuel filter was faulty, allowing debris to enter the fuel lines. On the other hand, if the problem is related to a leaking seal, only one injector might need to be replaced.
The Cost of Labor
As with any other car problem, taking your car to a professional repair shop will cost you more than fixing it yourself. Labor costs at a shop make up a large chunk of your money that goes into car repairs. When you decide whether to replace your fuel injectors or have it done by certified mechanics, you'll need to decide how much your time is worth.
The average fuel injector replacement job will cost between $1,112 to $1,391. This is obviously just an estimate based on nationwide studies. Using the same 2000 Honda Civic DX example car used before, replacing only one injector would cost around $350-400. Having the four of them replaced at the same time could reach about $1K.
To represent the luxury car segment, let's take a 2016 Cadillac CTS V8 as an example. In this case, replacing only one injector would cost between $1000 and $1200 while replacing all of them could go upwards of $2000.
In the high-performance car segment, things can be even worse. Replacing only one injector on a 2017 Porsche 911 Carrera would cost between $5200 and $6500 while replacing all of them would make you $6500 to $7800 poorer. In this case, the main reason why the total cost of replacing all the injectors at once is almost the same as only one is because of the Porsche Carrera's specific engine configuration. The flat-six engine is so crammed with so little space to work that numerous main components need to be disassembled to allow access to the injectors. Obviously, there's little to no chance an injector might need to be replaced on such a new vehicle but you get the point.
DIY or Professional Repair Shop?
Replacing injectors is not, in itself, a really complicated job but removing other components may take a lot of time. A complete fuel injector replacement could take anywhere from an afternoon to a whole day to finish, especially if you are still a newbie auto mechanic.
Having the job done by a repair shop will usually speed up the process. Certified auto mechanics know their way around an engine and replacing injectors is fairly simple. However, no matter the labor rate charged by your shop, replacing them on your own will definitely help you save some hard-earned bucks.
The cost to replace your fuel injectors at a shop might surprise you. Replacing fuel injectors at home can save you a lot of money.Related components replacement
Most people might want to consider changing other components when replacing fuel injectors. It is a good idea to replace the fuel filter at this time to ensure clean fuel is supplied to your fresh injectors. It's worth nothing to replace fuel injectors without fixing what damaged them in the first place.
When to Replace vs. Clean Fuel Injectors
In previous articles, we have discussed the cost and process of cleaning fuel injectors. The best way to clean fuel injectors is by using an ultrasonic cleaner. Buying an ultrasonic injector cleaner can cost as little as $50, while a professional service will cost around $200. As you can see, servicing the fuel system is a logical first step for our unlucky Jaguar XJ8 or Porsche Carrera owners. Unfortunately, the same service makes no sense for the owner of an old Honda.
Symptoms of Worn Out Fuel Injectors
The first sign of worn-out fuel injectors is often a check engine light or failed smog test. An OBD2 scan tool can be helpful to diagnose which fuel injector needs to be replaced.Many of the same signs drivers see for dirty fuel injectors will also be present when fuel injectors have become excessively worn. You might find that your car is harder to start in the morning. Your car might stumble or jerk when accelerating. A common sign of fuel injector trouble is a check engine light related to an emission system OBD2 code.
How Can You Tell Your Fuel Injectors Need to Be Replaced
The easiest way to inspect your fuel injectors proper operation is by looking at the spray pattern. To do that, you'll need to perform a spray test. Place the suspected injector above a piece of dark-colored paper and spray injector cleaner through it. Repeat the test and compare the spray patterns. A fuel injector making big drops instead of a fine spray will need to be replaced.
Removing Fuel Injectors
Most modern cars are engineered to make it easy for service technicians to remove and replace injectors. Unfortunately, it's not always the case and accessing injectors on some vehicle is a lot more complicated. In some cases, you may have to remove some components of the air conditioning system or the intake manifold. In these cases, you will also need to factor in the cost of replacing gaskets and seals. The A/C system also needs to be drained before it can be unplugged and this requires specific equipment and certification. You should never drain air conditioning systems without the proper equipment. If this is your case, you're better leaving this to a certified auto mechanic.
Tools for Removing Fuel Injectors
Almost all fuel injectors are connected to the fuel rail using a special type of fitting called a push lock. These fittings require a special tool to remove. The DIYer can rent these tools from their local auto parts store or buy inexpensive ones online. Mechanics typically use either a push-lock removing tool or a special pair of pliers designed for detaching the fittings. If you do not use a push-lock tool, you can break the clips. Your fuel injector will leak without the clip properly secured. If you break a clip, it will have to be replaced and these clips are often harder to find than the injectors itself.
Push-lock tools will cost you between $8 and $50 depending on the style that fits your car. Many push-lock clip tools come in a set covering a variety of sizes.
Things to Keep in Mind
Before you can remove your fuel injectors, you will need to release the fuel pressure. The fuel system is pressurized even when your car is turned off. There are numerous ways to relieve fuel pressure depending on the car model you drive. When in doubt, take a look inside your car's repair manual for the recommended procedure. To relieve fuel pressure, remove the fuel pump relay, start the car and let it die out. It is then safe to remove the fuel injectors. You should of course always wear safety goggles at all times. There's still fuel present in the lines and you really don't want to have some in your eyes.
Last Words
Most cars and trucks today will perform flawlessly for at least 100,000 miles without any fuel injector problems. Nonetheless, driving in extremely dirty areas, using poor quality fuel, and failure to regularly replace the fuel filter can drastically shorten the life of a fuel injector. To prevent that from happening, you can periodically use a fuel injector cleaner to keep your fuel injectors clean. However, once past a certain point, even the best injector cleaner won't be able to save a damaged injector. In this case, replacing the faulty injector might be your best bet. If it's your first time replacing fuel injectors, make sure to get your hands on your car's repair manual and take it slow. On most vehicles, replacing injectors is not hard at all and anybody should be able to do it with only some auto mechanic knowledge and some basic tools.
Good luck!