Fuel Injector Replacement advice

[DaveHoliday]

I recently removed the throttle body housing on my 81 Spider to re-tap and replace broken TPS mounting screws. The cold start injector hose was severely rotted and all the fuel hoses and injectors are original. Since I am replacing all the hoses and going through the fuel system, does anyone have an opinion about replacing the injectors. The car has 42,000 miles, but sat in a garage for 5 years without being driven. It runs fairly well right now, but I am sure a tune-up would smooth out the power band. By the way I have all of Brad Artigue's guides in hand (THANKS BRAD WHEREVER YOU ARE!!!) A local shop with go through the injectors for 50 bucks apiece....new ones are 58 bucks after core charge. My thought is replace them now while I have the car apart. My second thought is they are almost identical to the bosch injectors in my porsche 914....which started leaking after long term (10 years) storage. Any thoughts would be appreciated....and any advice as to other things I might overlook through this procedure would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks in advance for all who make this forum so great...I have had the car almost two years now and have always found what I needed right here!!

[76was124]

I had my injectors cleaned, new screens, orings and hoses along with the regulator tested for about $150. The car had been sitting for 8 years. Within a year I had to replace one of the injectors (i should have replaced them all, but I wasn't 100% sure the problem was with the injector.) As it urns out it was and if I could have found quality injectors for $58 each, I might have done all 4 from the start.

That being said, a mechanic once told me, you can usually get a sticky injector working again with a little tapping on it with a a dowel or a screw driver. Also, it's not that hard to pull them (twice) if you have a a hand vacuum pump to remove the pressure in the fuel line and don't mind replacing the hoses.

If you plan on replacing the screens yourself, a trick I picked up on YouTube, was to put a large sheet metal screw in a vice and use the threads to grab the screen, then pull!

[131]

I just bought a set of these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Bosch-EV14-30 ... 70&vxp=mtr
They were $20 less direct from the seller.
http://www.fiveomotorsport.com/

[bradartigue]

I've had mixed results having injectors cleaned. I'll recommend to anyone to buy new or refurbished Bosch injectors, but I'll also admit to buying brand new Auto Zone supplied knock-offs and they worked perfectly for years and years. I don't know what they cost these days but they were $25 each about 8 years ago vs. $90 each for Bosch. And they are I think the exact same injectors as your 914 - they aren't rare and aren't special parts made for the FIATs. I certainly wouldn't replace them until I knew they were cracked or clogged, and whenever you pull them replace the seals. Sometimes you can just soak the tips in MEK or acetone overnight, replace the seals, and they are just fine.

In terms of hoses for fuel injection systems I buy NAPA's MPI hoses, which far surpass anything FIAT put on these cars stock and doesn't kink internally on bends like the off the shelf FI hose. It's not expensive but it isn't free - I've replaced the mile or two of FI hosing in my Bosch K-Jetronic cars for about $30. It lasts forever under some very high pressure: http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/ ... _Final.pdf

I've revived Spiders that have sat outside for as long as yours sat inside - doing nothing really special other than replacing the timing belt and fluids and turning it over a few times by hand. Then crank without the plugs to get the oil and fuel pressure up, then crank with the plugs and fire it up. Keep an eye and nose out for leaks and shut it down if it is. Obviously you want to replace hoses and belts on an unused motor, but sometimes you just want to get it running to see what's what. They can surprise you - I've had 20 year old Spiders with original belts, hoses, clamps, etc. run just fine without leaks. Rare, but not unheard of.

[So Cal Mark]

I've never had an issue with any injectors I've had cleaned and tested. I also have new injectors at a very good price

[narfire]

Like Mark, I've had good success with injectors that have been cleaned and internal filters swapped out. Unlike Brad , I've only had my car about 6 years or so. When I had the injectors cleaned he also flow tested and did find one that was substandard compared to the others. Changed with a known good one and all is good now.

[spider2081]

A friend in NJ recommended http://www.cruzinperformance.com/ I have sent them 5 sets of injectors some of them were rejected as inoperative. All of the refurbished ones operated great.

[81SPIDERMATT]

is there an average turn around time for sending in injectors?? is it something that is done as "just because" or are most sending in because they have isolated ,what they think may be a problem, with the injectors .... example .. seems like lately getting bad fuel economy ...or car is down for other stuff and just do it because it is a good idea

[4uall]

I found this video that may help some http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEIP9ZYnnRc

Here's one where they can stay in the rail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKGI9N_yWd0

Also curious to know if an injector is an injector is an injector Can I go anywhere and just buy an injector?

[bradartigue]

I found this video that may help some http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEIP9ZYnnRc

Here's one where they can stay in the rail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKGI9N_yWd0

Also curious to know if an injector is an injector is an injector Can I go anywhere and just buy an injector?

L-Jetronic injectors are all the same basic injector but the flow rates will be different. You have to buy the right P/N Bosch injector or aftermarket equivalent. You can buy them anywhere because FIAT and several other manufacturers made about 60 million cars with L-Jetronic and the same flow rates.

[KidDingo]

FWIW, here's a list of all the makes and models that used the early Bosch injection systems.

[4uall]

As always Brad, Thank you Don't believe that I need any however, this thread gets me to thinking it may be nice to replace then keep track etc. Where are you all getting them from? (Canada boy) Probably going with my boys from Autoricambi

best overall deal

[wizard124]

Since you say it is running pretty good........
I replaced all my fuel lines and cleaned out the screens on my injectors. I bought the proper sized FI fuel line and clamps and injector seals from AutoRicambi (why waste time hunting around for it). I used Napa Electronics Cleaner (with straw) to clean and flush out the injector screens.
Replace the fuel lines from the tank/pump/filter/manifold feed/ manifold return lines while you are in there. Pump some fuel up to the bay to ensure the lines are clean.

Yours has fewer miles than mine. I would use the original injectors. BTW, my car was non-op for about 10 years, has 57k on the odometer. My injectors screens were very clean.

[DaveHoliday]

Thank you all for the advice...good stuff here and loads of support! I have decided to replace them since I have to whole system torn apart....I'll just cross them off the "list of things to get to in the future" now!! Thanks again everyone!

[DaveHoliday]

I have removed all the fuel system components under the hood and cleaning/prepping things for the new hoses, gaskets, injectors...etc.

However, I was rudely reminded of another problem that I have searched for but can't seem to find an answer to. After driving the car the car the fuel tank becomes pressurized...(I was reminded when i took the return line off and gas was spraying everywhere) I can understand developing vacuum as a tank uses fuel but this puzzles me. I have read about check valves that go bad on carb cars but haven't found much information for my situation. Also would high pressure in the tank cause the car not to run....last time it acted like it ran out of fuel I took the cap loose to release the pressure and the car fired back up after about 30 seconds. Put it this way...when i first discovered this, the pressure was high enough that as I unscrewed the cap it popped out of my hand on to the ground!

I am probably not searching correctly so if anyone has advice or can point me to a link I'll dance at your wedding!