What no fuel ?

[Layla]

A quick query to which I hope someone will just say I'm a muppet, and missing something obvious.....fingers crossed.

In brief I had my engine drop onto two cylinders. Not a coil issue, so I had my injectors checked to see if that was the issue. It was. I changed my injectors for a second hand set (OE) from a running car.

With the new in place, it now won't start at all. The fuel pump is working. The fuel rail is getting fuel at pressure (loosened the fuel pressure regulator and fuel sprayed out). The injectors are clicking when powered up. However, no fuel is getting to the plugs. A spray of 'easy start' in the air box and she starts immediately, so it seems that it is just that the injectors aren't letting fuel through somehow (even though I can hear them click). Could there be an airlock somewhere I can't think of? What am I missing?

Any suggestions most welcome.

Thanks.

[Tuga2112]

air lock very very unlikely.

I had my car completely drained while i took out the tank (welding on rear jacking point)
months later when everything was put back together all i needed to do was cicle the ignition switch multiple times to let the pump force the petroll throught all the way till it returned to the tank.

can you hear the pump priming ? could be a simple situation of fogetting to reset the inertia switch?

[dapinky]

From what you say IS happening, it rules out a lot of the 'usual' things to check...... all that I can really suggest is the earth wire (braided) at the back of the engine/manifold is not on properly (or has broken due to being disturbed).

Basically, 'easy-start' working says that the electrics and valvetrain are okay....... fuel rail under pressure says the pump/inertia switch/regulator are okay...... clicking injectors say that the electric supply is okay...... which leaves the earth, as it is that electric path which is 'switched' at the ECU (but they are clicking, so it isn't likely to be an ECU issues)..... can't think of anything else........

.... assuming that the new injectors are clean and not gummed up from being stored - it could be that the nozzles are blocked with waxy old fuel deposits, but the ball bearing is still free enough to operate.

I know it's a pain, but I would remove 2 of the "new" injectors, and see if fuel passes through when you connect a 9V battery to the terminals...... if not, then clean them and try again. Then do the other 2 (or even swap 2 of your old good ones for now to see if that gets it going)

[Layla]

Thanks. Helpful in that I haven't missed anything blindingly obvious. So I think I'll have to take injectors out for cleaning and checking, before a re-fit. I'll let you know how it goes, in case it doesn't work and I need more ideas, or if it des, to help others who might have the same issue at some point. Thanks again.

[Layla]

Sorry for the delay in update. I found the problem, which may be a help to others. Apparently because modern fuel has a significant water content, if injectors stand for a while, in the right conditions, they rust up. So they click and sound like normal, but are blocked. Advice I got was , when this happens, do not try to waste time unblocking them. There is a risk they will not work correctly, even if you can free them up, so you risk fuel washing the bores. The advice of a specialist is, start your car monthly, use a fuel stabiliser, and use injector cleaner from time to time. Hope it helps someone.