What are the symptoms of a faulty fuel injector in a sedan?
3 Answers
Symptoms of a faulty fuel injector in a sedan include: 1. Engine vibration during operation when fuel injection is obstructed; 2. Reduced vehicle power and increased fuel consumption due to compromised fuel injection volume and pressure from a damaged injector; 3. Increased vehicle exhaust emissions caused by the injector's impact on the mixture and combustion of the air-fuel mixture; 4. Difficulty starting the vehicle or sudden stalling while driving; 5. Severe damage to individual cylinder injectors may lead to engine misfire, resulting in significant engine vibration.
After all these years of repairing cars, I've seen plenty of cases of faulty fuel injectors. The most common symptom is the engine shaking, especially at idle, making the whole car feel like it's wobbling. During startup, it might take several attempts to ignite, as if the engine is reluctant to move. Acceleration also becomes sluggish, with the throttle feeling like stepping on cotton, and the engine responding slowly. Fuel consumption can inexplicably rise, costing more for the same distance driven. The check engine light usually comes on as a warning, and in severe cases, black smoke may come out of the exhaust pipe, indicating unburned fuel being wasted. Unusual noises, like a ticking sound from uneven fuel injection, might also occur. If these issues aren't fixed promptly, engine performance will deteriorate further, carbon buildup will worsen, and repairs will become more expensive. You can do a preliminary check on fuses or the battery yourself, but it's best to visit a reliable repair shop to confirm the issue with a diagnostic tool. Regular maintenance, including cleaning the fuel injectors to prevent carbon buildup, can help extend their lifespan.
Last month, the fuel injector in my own car malfunctioned, and it was truly a frustrating personal experience. While driving, the engine would suddenly speed up and slow down erratically, and the idle was as unstable as disco dancing—starting the car became incredibly difficult, and I stalled several times at intersections, drawing honks from other drivers. Acceleration was completely powerless; even when I floored the gas pedal to overtake, it felt sluggish, making me genuinely fear an accident. Fuel consumption skyrocketed noticeably—normally, a full tank would last 500 kilometers, but now it barely made it past 400, costing me a lot in unnecessary expenses. There was also a persistent smell of unburned gasoline in the car, and the engine light flickered on and off, keeping me on edge. During troubleshooting, I first tried replacing the oil filter, but it didn’t solve the issue. Later, a professional mechanic explained that the clogged fuel injector caused uneven air-fuel mixture, triggering this chain of problems. He recommended adding fuel system cleaner regularly as a preventive measure and replacing faulty injectors promptly instead of pushing through, to avoid engine cylinder damage. Now, after the repair, driving feels like a brand-new car—smooth as silk—and the money spent was absolutely worth it.