Woah! Injector Popped Out!

SnakeEyeSS · August 13, 2008

Well, it didn't pop out, just looked that way at first....and I found a link(lower in post) that maybe be my answer.

The Injector or rail is leaking 2000 Malibu 3.1L V6. the middle injector on the side of the engine closest to the firewall has a small pool of fuel around in to the other side of the engine under the intake manifold. IT took a while to find the problem(mainly because I didn't expect this!), and she had been smelling gas intermittently. what is my line of action? just replace it?

I'll need a :

-intake manifold gasket(just the "upper" gasket, right?)

-a new injector, or just "INJECTOR SEAL KIT"?

-or fuel rail(is the one in back the "left" or "right" fuel rail)

-and the bolt torque specs(if anyone knows them, thanks!), but anything else?

also, I found this link, there is a discussion in there about what seems to be the same issue a few people have already had, they say just a new injector o-ring will work, I assume that is the "injector seal kit", but I'll just go to a local dealer since that one is so cheap.

Thanks in Advance

Ignore the yellow drawings.

SnakeEyeSS · August 13, 2008

revised my post for those who have already seen it, please look again

minibike132 · August 13, 2008

You beat me I was going to say you just lost an o'ring. It will probably be more expensive than you think. Usually they will not just give you 1 o'ring they come as a pricey set, but still less than an injector. I can do these without totally removing the upper intake but I wouldn't really suggest it unless you have had a few apart and it doesn't sound like you have. Give me a few minutes and I'll get you some torque specs.

SnakeEyeSS · August 13, 2008

it looks like I'll have to take off the coils to get to a bolt on back, but it looks like I'll be able to leave most everything intact except the MAS and just put the manifold off to the back. Including those(two nut on the back of the coil are gone), I see 8 bolts total......I have at least moderate mechanical skill, between moderate and expert maybe(been working on cars since before I could drive) I'm thinking This could be taken care of in a few hours if I take my time?

Thanks again

minibike132 · August 13, 2008

It's been a while since I've done a 3.1, this is a job we can do on auto pilot if it's in the bay but I can't picture everything. Tips I can give off the top of my head are make sure that you hang onto both EGR gaskets when you remove it, there is one between the valve and the manifold and another between the manifold and pipe. That one on the pipe likes to fall down and get lost if your not watching out. The upper intake bolt torque is 18 lb ft. once you have that manifold off make sure and cover the intake runner holes, the last thing you want to do is drop something down one, god forbid you do it will find the open valve and you will end up taking the head off to retrieve it. I usually stuff rags in the holes or cut a strip of duct tape. There are only 2 bolts holding the rail in once you get in there. You will have to do some prying to get the injectors to release from the intake be very careful here, I can't remember when we switched to the thin plastic injectors but it looks like you have them and they break. I usually spray some silicone lube down at the base of the injectors and let them sit for a bit to get pliable before even attempting removal. If you only get the lower o'rings be absolutly sure you did not bend any of the clips retaining the top and that you did not pull any o'rings out of the rail. If one came out at all do not just push it back in, remove it and be sure there are no tears in the ring, the smallest deform and you can get leaks. That is more critical on the lower rings though because vacuum leaks easier than fuel and trust me on this it sucks way bad to get this all back togeather and find you have another injector with a bad one causing a vacuum leak. If they will only sell you a set do yourself a favor and replace them all. Oh I almost forgot when you remove the rail be very careful to inspect all of the holes and see that the injector tips did not stay in the manifold. If so be very careful to get them out and reinstalled on the injector. To reinstall I usually coat the o'rings in some silicone lube (the paste not the spray, spray works just not as good). I usually use a little blue loctite on the fuel rail bolts. Make sure the gasket surfaces are clean and put her all back togeather.

Wow I think I can do one faster than it took me to type all that. Take a wide pic of the engine compartment and I'll see if anything else jumps out at me that should be known.

SnakeEyeSS · August 14, 2008

I replaced ALL o-rings, even the ones in the rail....get this even swapped the injector that was leaking with one opposite it...and the same cylinder leaks....WORSE!!! And once I had everything back together? a injector clip popped off....nice, so I spent an hour putting it back on without taking everything apart, beside the fuel pressure reg, which is now botched.

The car is going....

I'm going toyota(maybe a hyuandi). I've know too many people who have driven them forever and never had a drivetrain problem. GM cars just seem to be getting worse.

pennzoil29 · August 14, 2008

I replaced ALL o-rings, even the ones in the rail....get this even swapped the injector that was leaking with one opposite it...and the same cylinder leaks....WORSE!!! And once I had everything back together? a injector clip popped off....nice, so I spent an hour putting it back on without taking everything apart, beside the fuel pressure reg, which is now botched.

The car is going....

I'm going toyota(maybe a hyuandi). I've know too many people who have driven them forever and never had a drivetrain problem. GM cars just seem to be getting worse.

Oh, No, say it ain't so.

SnakeEyeSS · August 14, 2008

oh yes, it is. did it today, in fact I had to call in emergency leave at work, cause the malibu leak was so bad this morning. got a lot better once the engine was hot, but still bad

gave20 · August 14, 2008

I see cousin Eddie made it in for Labor Day 2 houses down; it adds a nice touch to the neighborhood. I'm glad I live in a neighborhood that has covenants, and enforces them.