What are the symptoms of a faulty fuel injector in an engine?
4 Answers
Here are the symptoms of a damaged fuel injector in a car: 1. Engine shaking: When fuel injection is not smooth, the engine may experience operational shaking during operation. 2. Decreased power and increased fuel consumption: If the fuel injection volume and pressure cannot be guaranteed, it will lead to reduced vehicle power and increased fuel consumption. 3. Increased exhaust emissions pollution: Faulty engine fuel injectors affect the mixing and combustion of combustible gas mixtures, resulting in increased pollutants in vehicle exhaust emissions. 4. Difficulty starting or even stalling: The vehicle may experience difficulty starting and sudden stalling during driving. 5. Engine misfire: If the fuel injector of a specific cylinder is severely damaged, the engine may misfire, causing severe shaking. 6. Black smoke from the exhaust: Poor fuel atomization and inadequate mixing with air prevent complete combustion of the combustible gas mixture, leading to black smoke from the vehicle and increased engine carbon deposits.
Last time I was driving, the engine suddenly started jerking intermittently, like it was convulsing, and even accelerating became sluggish—stepping on the gas pedal took forever to respond. At first, I thought it might be a fuel quality issue, but then the fuel consumption started skyrocketing. Previously, a full tank could last 500 kilometers, but now it was struggling to reach 400. Later, I noticed black smoke and a strange smell from the exhaust, and the idle was unstable—even stopping at a red light felt like the car was shivering. To make matters worse, the engine sometimes had trouble starting, requiring multiple key turns before firing up, and that damn check engine light stayed on for days. I rushed to the repair shop, and the mechanic said it was caused by clogged or leaking fuel injectors. If left unfixed, it could damage other components. Replacing them cost a bit, but at least the car runs smoothly now. Next time during routine maintenance, I’ll remember to clean the fuel injectors to avoid this mess again.
I remember when I was working on car repairs, a faulty fuel injector was particularly noticeable. First, the engine sound became strange, and the idle sounded like an asthma patient wheezing, completely unstable. The power also dropped significantly—what used to be a light tap on the accelerator to overtake now required a lot of effort with little speed gain. If you're checking it yourself, start by observing whether the exhaust emits black or white smoke, and compare fuel consumption to see if it has increased. If the car is hard to start or frequently stalls, there's a high chance the fuel injector is the culprit. The simplest method is to unplug the fuel injector and listen to its working sound—normally, it should produce a steady "click-click-click" rhythm. A faulty one will either be silent or have an irregular rhythm. It's recommended to regularly use gasoline additives to clean the fuel injector and prevent clogging. If it's broken, replace it early to avoid damaging the spark plugs or catalytic converter, which could lead to higher repair costs. This issue isn’t hard to diagnose, and with proper maintenance, it usually doesn’t become a major problem.
After driving for so many years, the most common symptoms when fuel injectors fail are these: unstable engine idling, especially noticeable shaking when stopping at red lights; lack of power during acceleration, with speed not increasing even when the throttle is pressed hard; inexplicably high fuel consumption, with a full tank running dozens of kilometers less; abnormal black smoke or strong odors from the exhaust; in severe cases, difficulty starting, requiring multiple turns of the key; some cars may light up the warning light to alert you. These issues all stem from clogged or leaking fuel injectors, causing inaccurate fuel spray and incomplete combustion. I've seen many cases where prolonged neglect affects the entire engine—minor cases lead to shaking and degraded engine oil, while severe cases result in catalytic converter failure and costly repairs. Safety first—if you notice any signs, get it checked at a professional shop immediately to prevent minor issues from turning into major disasters. During routine vehicle inspections, consider asking the mechanic to test the fuel injectors' condition.
