My baby needs a new injector

[driverdriver]

I access the ECU just to see if it there is a code. Get nothing.

Having previously owned a number of vehicles where the "idiot lights" never went on even when there was a problems, I use an approach thta elminates culprits from simplest to fix to most labor intensive. I start my diagnosis with The MAF, swap it out with one in a buddies J30 to see if it makes a difference. Rough idle still there. Move the 02 sensors, rough idle still there.

By now I'm beginning to suspect its an ignition coil.

Weather turns from spring back to freakin winter(where its stayed for the last couple of weeks). I decide I'm not freezing my A$$ of in the garage (its not heated) and currently its not the best place to work in since I have all my outdoor furniture stowed away in there waiting for the cold and snow to go away. Decide the best course of action is to take it somewhere else. Call up my regular mechanic, he can't take me for a few weeks since he's finishing up work on existing cars and then taking a vacation, so I decide to take the J to my nearest Nissan dealer (there are only a few people I trust with the J and one of them is the Nissan dealer-I've learned from some bad experiences in the past).

Nissan dealer agrees with me that its likely an ignition coil. They order one up install i , rough idle still around. They do some more diagnostics and get to the root of the problem. The fuel injector that feeds cylinder 2 has basically seized (the pintle inside the injector is toast) so I need a new fuel injector.

I'm not really suprised, due to the age of the vehicle, I know these parts commonly go.

New OEM Nissan injector is on order. Dealer is going to remove and clean the plenum. I should have my baby back sometime late next week running like normal.

I'll keep you guys updated.

[gr8scott72]

Dealer is going to remove and clean the plenum.

Plenum being the intake manifold/plenum? What are they going to charge to do that? I took the upper portion of the intake manifold off my 93 and it was not pleasant. I'd rather have a root canal than have to do that again.

[driverdriver]

The dealer told me that the plenum cleaning is part of the labor. labor costs are going to be the bulk of my repair cost. I'm looking at 5-6 hours of labor (which is almost exclusively taking off the plenum and intake manifold). The injector costs about a $100, according to the master tech its straightforward to take out the old injector and put in the new.

I know what a PITA taking off the plenum is and I wasn't going to attempt it myself especially in cold weather in a cramped garage.

[95-J30tt]

the injectors can also be changed using the dremel method, it will save you from removing the plenum, but you will need to have a dremel machine, the right socket for it, that given, appearently some people have done it in less than 1/2 an hour....

i've only heard of the method, i've also seen pictures online about them done on the 300zx

the risky part is to know how much to take off the plenum before the inside walls are penetrated..... so basically, clearing up space for a screw driver to fit, and safely remove the injector screws out.......

driverdriver, shoot me an e-mail if you are interested, i have the link, but i dont know if it is against the rules of this forum

[driverdriver]

95-J30tt

Thanks for your advice. I know about the dremel method. Its on the fuzzycats site.

It has its risks and knowing my luck when it comes to taking short cuts in auto mechanic repair something horribly will go wrong. So I'm leaving it at the Nissan dealer having them do it properly.

[yodawill2000]

Theres a few injectors that can come out without any grinding. Guess Ive been luck so far

[silkysmoothyjud]

I owe you one driver, whether you know it or not....I can take every injector out of the rail without removing the plenum completely. You can partially remove the plenum and get to the injectors with a large screwdriverdrive. Lay the screwdriver on the rail below the injector electrical connector and turn the screwdriverdrive like your unscrewing a nut. The injector will barely come out of the rail. Then, use a tiny screwdriverdrive to pluck the injector out of the rail (all of em are simple to get out that way). Be sure you use the proper preparation methods (i.e. pull the fuel pump fuse and remove the gas cap while its running to relieve pressure, use vasaline to lube the orings, use a small c-clamp to seat the injectors, let the fuel pump prime three times before starting). Those are the tricks to the trade that I have learned here on NICO. God love you all!!