Posted: 8/19/2006 10:42:59 AM EDT
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My check engine light came on last week. I went down to the parts place and he scanned the code. Came back as missing on cylinder 5. I put some injector cleaner in to see if that would help. Over the last week it has come off and on. Took it to get it fixed this morning and he said it was a bad injector, $400 to replace it. He didn't have the part so I won't be able to get it fixed until mid next week. Driving it home today the light goes off again and has stayed off. So is it a bad injector or just dirty? Would the mechanic be able to tell the difference? |
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It can be faulty electronically, as in maybe an intermittent open in the solenoid's wiring, or mechanically, like sticking/clogged or something like that. Most of the cleaners you dump in the tank don't really do much. And I dunno what you're driving, but $400 is a lot of money for diagnosis and replacing one injector. |
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Missing on cylinder 5................. Have you checked the coil/distrubutor-spark plug wire, spark plug, for that cylinder? Generally, injectors either work or they don't. If it runs ok sometime, but not other times, I have a sneaking suspicion it's not an injector. |
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I'm driving an '01 Pontiac Grand Prix. I don't remember the cost on the part but labor was 2.6 hours. They checked everything this morning and said the problem was with the injector. The car has 90K miles so he did recommend new plugs ($150) and new wires ($180). My dad is checking with his mechanic on replacement cost. We're trading it in here shortly so I just need to the light to stay off until traded. |
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I have a 93 Pontiac Grand Am, I think plugs were $12 and wires $35......... 3 were easy to get, 2 were kinda tough, 1 was an ass kicker. 45 minutes of swearing, 15 minutes of washing dirt off my arms. Summit has plug wires $16-$64 for a set. Spark plugs are $2-$13 each. $330 for a plug/wire swap, with labor seems high. |
Sounds like the tech is hedging his bet a little by selling you all the ususal suspects that can cause a misfire code. Sure at 90K you need a tune up, but I would want the misfire fixed first. If it's an injector, on the 3.8L it shouldn't take more than 20 minutes to change. |
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If you have a 3.8 engine #5 cyl. is facing you when you open the hood. Spark plug should not be hard to change. The ones on the backside are harder to get to and add extra time to the labor. AutoZone has single spark plug wires for 6-7 bucks. You have to take your old one off and bring it in for them to match it. If it's not something odd ball they might match it up. Spark plugs are about 7-8 bucks each for the correct plug. Use the Ac brand plug and just change # 5. I don't know which injector cleaner you used, but some are much better then others. STP makes a complete fuel system cleaner ( Grey bottle ) that works well for 6-8 bucks. The other STP cleaners are weak. Slick 50 makes a cleaner you can pour in you tank for about 12-15 bucks a bottle that's good. A pressurized fuel system cleaner that attaches to a valve on your fuel rail will clean better. Most shops offer this service. Some shops will rip you off on this and charge much more than its worth. Your injector could be bad, but a good mechanic can tell for sure. If you are lucky you might fix the problem for under 30.00 dollars if you don't need an injector. #5 plug. Single wire. Fuel system cleaner. But if the injector is bad replacing it is the only way to fix it. If you don't have a mechanic you trust in that area give me your city and I might be able to recommend one. God Bless |
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I've got the 3.1L engine. The #5 is on the back side of that engine I think. It was STP that I used but I don't remember the color of the bottle. It's been two days now and the light hasn't come back on. We just reached the end of the tank I had the cleaner in. If it comes back on I'm taking it to my dad's mechanic. He usually is about half the price of everyone else. He takes twice as long but we can live with one car for a couple of days. |
| Wow., talk about getting hosed on cost. Plugs cost 2-3bux each, take ya like an hour to replace. Plug wires should be from 30-50bux max, take about 30min. to change. I really dont think its injector like others have stated. Maybe a wire or connection maybe. An injector should be under 100bux easily. they actually change out pretty easily. Hell, if ya was here id do it for ya, jus cost of parts. |
Ummm it's a 3.1L the upper intake has to come off if the injector is to be changed out. |
I C. Still not a problem, jus a lil more involved. Could be why cost is jacked up.  Fun fun fun |