When the starter spins when starting the engine, but the car does not start, many motorists begin to look for a problem in the battery. But sometimes it’s not his fault. In winter or autumn, when the air is damp or cold, starting the car in the morning can become a real problem. It turns out that quite often the spark plugs flood when starting the engine. Let's figure out why this happens. And how you can fight these.
How to check an injector nozzle for serviceability
Problems with injectors occur both on cars powered by diesel fuel and on gasoline-injected cars. An injector is a part responsible for injecting fuel under a certain pressure. It is useful to know how to check the injector nozzle if starting difficulties occur.
Causes and symptoms
Accurate metering of fuel, tightness of hoses and seals, activation of the injector at the right moment are prerequisites for stable and trouble-free operation of the engine. If the injection part leaks, as they say, then the efficiency of fuel atomization deteriorates, i.e., the shape of the flame is upset and the power unit smokes, either black or gray, it is difficult to start, consumption increases, and power is lost.
“The injector is leaking” is an expression that means fuel is leaking at a time when it is not needed.
There are many culprits for poor performance. For example, a dirty filter, a non-working fuel pump or bad spark plugs. The same thing happens due to the fault of a failed reel or due to problems with the timing belt.
The most important symptom of a non-working injector is difficulty starting the internal combustion engine. This is especially true for a “cold” engine. In addition, as mentioned above, symptoms include increased fuel consumption and unstable engine operation in idle mode. The last symptom generally resembles almost a tripping of the engine, as if one of the cylinders is not working.
As for the driving signs of a non-working injector.
- The car moves jerkily, especially when trying to accelerate. The accelerator pedal is dull.
- Jerking while driving, after changing gears or releasing the gas pedal.
- There is an undisguised fiasco in traction and aphasia of dynamics during acceleration or maneuver.
Defects in injection elements should be corrected immediately, otherwise it will negatively affect the service life of the engine and gearbox. Experts also do not recommend driving with a faulty injector, because it is simply dangerous. On steep climbs, when maneuvering and overtaking, a car with a failed injector can play a cruel joke on the driver.
How is diagnostics carried out?
You should know that car injectors are classified into several types. Today, two of them are in use: conventional and electric injection elements (magnetic).
Electric or, more correctly, electromagnetic injectors (EMF) are equipped with a special valve that supplies fuel. It, the valve, is controlled by the power unit ECU using sent pulses.
As for mechanical injectors, they open as the gasoline pressure in the injector increases, i.e., automatically.
On modern cars, the first variants of injectors are often installed - EMF.
Checking the injector itself without removing it
Injector testing can be done in several ways. However, in use
the simplest of them, and this is not surprising. It makes it possible to quickly test the injectors without even removing them from the car. The fundamental factor in such diagnostics is the analysis of the noise emitted by the motor during operation.
If a muffled high-frequency noise is heard from under the hood, this indicates the importance of cleaning the injectors or a problem with one of them.
Checking power supply
It is recommended to check how the power is going. This test option is carried out only when the injectors themselves are functioning flawlessly, but difficulties are observed with starting.
Here's how this kind of diagnosis is carried out:
- the block is disconnected from the injection system;
- two wires are connected to the battery, which are simultaneously connected at the other ends to the injectors;
- Now you need to start the engine and check the presence or absence of gasoline leakage.
According to the result, the following conclusions are drawn:
- if fuel leaks, it means there is a problem in the car’s electrical circuit;
- if not, then everything is fine.
Another test option involves using an ohmmeter. This method allows you to measure the resistance on the injectors, and draw conclusions accordingly.
This is done as follows.
- You need to find out the standard parameter of the injection elements of a particular car (for example, for a VAZ - 11-15 Ohms). Some foreign cars are of greater or lesser importance.
- Next, you need to disconnect the terminal from the battery, thereby de-energizing the system.
- Remove the electrical connector from the injector using a screwdriver with a thin pin. It will be enough to snap off the special clamp installed on the block.
- After this, connect the terminals of the device to the injection parts to measure the indicator.
In this way, you can measure the compliance of the resistance indicator with the required one. If deviations from the norms are noticeable, the faulty injector is removed from the vehicle and replaced with a known good one. After this, you can check the resistance again, and be sure to evaluate the operation of the motor. If everything was done correctly, the engine characteristics should change.
Analysis of the operation of injectors on the ramp
This method already involves dismantling the fuel rail. The injectors, of course, are removed along with the ramp. Then reconnect all electrical contacts to the ramp (after all, they are thrown off during dismantling). The negative terminal of the battery, which was removed earlier, also returns to its place.
- the ramp is placed in the engine compartment so that it is possible to place a container with a printed scale under the injectors;
- the fuel supply hoses are connected to the ramp (be sure to securely fix them at the ends);
- the engine is started by the starter (it is advisable to work together with an assistant);
- while the assistant rotates the starter, you need to test the operating efficiency of all injectors (gasoline must be supplied equally to all injectors);
- at the last stage of the procedure, the ignition is turned off, the level of gasoline in the containers is checked (obviously, the level should be the same).
Anyone can check the injector nozzle with their own hands. It is not necessary to go straight to a car service center if you encounter another problem. An experienced motorist should be able to do some repairs himself.
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Typical injector malfunctions
Hello, dear motorists! Injector malfunctions can have, as in the fairy tale about Scheherazade, a thousand and... one reason. The injection system, along with its efficiency, has a delicate structure and depends on so many factors that the format of this article is not enough to list them all.
Actually, the average motorist needs to know the reasons for the injector malfunction only for general information about his car. Experts strongly recommend not to repair or clean the injector yourself unless you have certain qualifications, knowledge and experience.
That is why we will limit ourselves to only listing typical injector malfunctions that are typical for any engine model. And, of course, characteristic signs of one or another injector malfunction.
Typical injector malfunctions and their causes
Gasoline does not flow into the injector. In addition to the malfunction of the electric fuel pump itself, there is a banal and simple reason that gasoline does not flow into the injector. And this reason lies in the correct installation of the fuel pump.
The following question often comes up on forums: the level indicator shows that there are at least 10 liters in the tank, but gasoline is not flowing. Reasons: either after repair the fuel pump is installed above the factory level. This happens if the “masters” install a fuel pump that is not original. Therefore, as the fuel level decreases, the pump “grabs” air.
Or the fuel inlet holes into the fuel pump are clogged. It wouldn't hurt to check the serviceability of the fuel level indicator.
Clogged injector: increased fuel consumption. A clogged injector is one of the main reasons for increased fuel consumption.
Clogging of one or more nozzles leads to a violation of the shape of the torch, hence: the desired mixture formation and quality of the mixture are disrupted. As a result, we have: the engine is running rough, the efficiency is noticeably reduced, since a significant part of the fuel burns uselessly in the exhaust manifold, and the acceleration dynamics of the car drops.
In addition, conditions are automatically created to increase the load on electronic systems: spark plugs, ignition coil, high voltage wires, and so on.
The injector loses idle speed . The most common reason why an injector loses idle speed is a failure of the IAC (idle air regulator). Or there is an air leak. Or condensation in the throttle pipe.
There is no spark and how to check the spark on the injector. The engine does not start, but you can hear the fuel pump in the tank turning on. You need to start by checking the spark discharge. How to check the spark on the injector? Not as the old carburetor experts advise - to burst. That is, placing the wire at a distance from ground.
Checking for a spark gap in an injection engine can lead to failure of the controller or ignition module. Therefore, the recommendation of the experts is to check the spark on the injector using a spark gap.
Trouble injector. The definition of "troit" means one inoperative cylinder. This means the cylinder is misfiring. The description of this injector malfunction is highlighted in a separate topic. It is in it that you will learn in more detail about the causes of misfire.
The injector is overflowing. In this case, the spark plugs, injectors, and fuel pump may be in order. And when starting the engine, the spark plugs are filled with gasoline. The diagnosis should begin with the throttle position sensor, since it is responsible for the amount of fuel injection.
But now the most important conclusion. No matter what folk methods you are advised to use when diagnosing injector faults, the surest option is to carry out diagnostics using instruments.
The same applies to the injector cleaning process. After all, when buying a fuel additive for flushing an injector, no one is immune from the fact that behind the bright label of an advanced brand, you are not buying a “homemade product”. Garage spill.
An injection injection system is not a car system on which you need to save money, both during diagnostics and during repair or cleaning of injectors. Your task, as the owner of the car, is to carefully study the operating manual, and: undergo maintenance on time, fill in high-quality fuel, operate the car in the recommended modes.
Possible causes of fuel overflow
Too high a proportion of fuel in the oil leads to a thinning of the oil film, which, in turn, significantly impairs its performance and, accordingly, increases the degree of wear of engine components. This problem may have the following reasons:
- The injection system is incorrectly configured.
- The mixture enrichment system supplies too rich a mixture during a cold start.
- The injection nozzles do not work properly, for example, due to a clogged fuel filter.
- Due to the gap being too small, the piston hits the cylinder head, thereby causing uncontrolled injection of the injectors.
- Compression pressure is too low. This phenomenon may have the following reasons: The valve is leaking.
- The cylinder head gasket is leaking.
- The valve timing is not set correctly.
- The gap between the piston crown at top dead center and the cylinder head is too large
- One piston ring or several piston rings are defective.
- An error has occurred in the ignition system, for example, there is a faulty spark plug.
Causes and signs of injector contamination
Most modern cars are equipped with injection engines; the days of carburetor engines are gone forever. Injection power plants are more economical, environmentally friendly and productive, but at the same time they have a more complex design and injection system, consisting of a pressure regulator, injectors equipped with an electromagnetic valve, a fuel line, a fuel rail, intake valves and a number of other parts.
During operation, various fine particles and heavy fractions (sulfur, olefin, benzene and a number of others) are deposited on the designated parts, which come along with the fuel and can accumulate in the form of varnish and resinous deposits. In turn, this leads to contamination of the injectors, a change in the direction and shape of the spray pattern, and in some cases a complete cessation of fuel supply, even when using fuel filters that are capable of filtering out particles larger than 10-20 microns.
As a result, the formation of the air-fuel mixture is significantly deteriorated, the tightness of the pressure regulator valve is also compromised, and engine performance is reduced.
The deposition of these substances can interfere with the normal functioning of the working elements inside the nozzle, namely, it can disrupt the tightness of the valve, which is opened by an electromagnet controlled by the BC. In this case, when closed, they will allow gasoline to pass through due to constant pressure in the fuel system.
The injector is overflowing, what should I watch?
I had a problem, the car became very difficult to start when cold, i.e. it catches on - the speed increases to 1300-1500 and then stalls. Then start up like an old Lada - the fourth or fifth time. It’s easier when it’s hot, but the carburetor effect has appeared - the more you warm it up, the better it goes, and the engine wakes up after 2200 rpm. One day, after the first “setting”, I unscrewed the spark plugs; they were all filled with gasoline, and in the combustion chamber, in the light, puddles of gasoline were also visible. There is no doubt that the injectors are overfilling, all four at once. I’ll immediately make a reservation that the spark plugs, the fuel pump, its mesh, the mass air flow sensor, lambdas and injectors (since all four do not die at once) are in excellent health, the check does not light up or blink (at the diagnosis they told me so, there are no errors - there is nothing to scan). Another point - I drive on gas and there are no problems (with the engine, traction and consumption). But with the onset of cold weather, I have to start on gasoline - it will get worse, winter is not just around the corner. There are suspicions about the throttle position sensor because... he is also responsible for the number of injections, but H.H. normal and stable. CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHAT COULD BE?
We fix the problem ourselves
To fix the problem yourself, you need to at least know where the spark plugs are. There are several solutions. The first is installing a new kit, of course, if you have one. It is advisable not to throw away the old ones, but simply put them in the garage. In order to remove the spark plugs, you will need a special spark plug wrench, which almost every motorist has. However, the method is not suitable for everyone, due to the lack of a new kit.
Now let’s look at a method that involves using old candles. The fact is that they are not spoiled, but simply filled with gasoline, but drying alone is also not enough. Therefore, we will need a furnace in which we can heat the candle to a high temperature and change color to red. This event is carried out in order to get rid of residual fuel and the carbon deposits that have actually formed. But here you need to remember that in this case, firstly, the ceramics of the candle will deteriorate, and secondly, polishing will be required before installation.
Studying plaque on candles
They say that when candles are “flooded,” black soot forms. Let us clarify: it should not consist of inclusions. All metal, in turn, will be covered with an oily coating. Dry carbon looks different...
Oily layer and dry soot
The photo shows two cases. “Our version” is on the right.
And soot can also be brown. And it always, in 100% of cases, is formed due to flooding with gasoline.
An oily coating, as in photo 1, is, nevertheless, the result of oil ingress. But an oiled candle does not work correctly - it will also be “flooded”.
With regular “flooding,” carbon deposits form, which we see in photo 1 on the right and in photo 2. The rest does not apply to our case.
Diesel engine noises indicating a malfunction
Every fan knows the sound of his car's engine. As a rule, it is quiet and measured, without any admixture of extraneous noise. However, the appearance of extraneous sounds, and especially knocking, gives many vehicle owners cause for concern. The reasons for knocking can be very diverse. Some indicate the need for scheduled maintenance, others indicate serious malfunctions and the need for urgent repairs of the diesel engine.
Among all kinds of engine problems, knocking noise when running a diesel engine is the most common occurrence. It is important to distinguish engine noise from the sound of the chassis. It is impossible to determine in absentia the cause of the knocking without conducting engine diagnostics, since many elements of the system can produce similar noises. Knocking can occur either from an insufficiently tightened part or from a failed motor element. In any case, you should not postpone your visit to the car service center.
Main reasons
First, let's look at the main reasons for this phenomenon. Surprisingly, the main source of problems in this case is the car’s ECU and the features of its firmware.
When it’s below zero outside, the system tries to create certain conditions for the fuel mixture. It is no secret that in frosty air the volume of oxygen is much higher.
So it turns out that the ECU sends an order to the injectors to supply a larger volume of fuel.
Naturally, “orders are not discussed” and the injectors increase the amount of gasoline injected.
VAZ 2109,10,11,12,14,15 the injector floods the spark plugs in the cold, what to do.
At subzero temperatures, mixing the fuel-air mixture requires some effort: more oxygen in cold air requires more gasoline. Accordingly, the ECU gives a command to the injector nozzles to increase the fuel supply, which they do in good faith. VAZ 2109,10,11,12,14,15 the injector starts and fills the spark plugs, what to do. The problem was in the spark plugs, I installed new NGK ones for 500 rubles and installed a different fuel mass air flow sensor, but it worked, the old one used 4 times more fuel. Cold start now at -25 without problems now.
How to prevent candles from flooding
As noted above, on new cars the question does not arise: what to do if the spark plugs are flooded, since this does not happen. But you can get rid of this on any car, you just need to comply with a number of important requirements. Firstly, you need to use special motor oil that does not thicken at low temperatures, this allows you to start the engine without much effort and stress on the battery and starter.
Secondly, high-quality fuel will not allow your spark plug to burn out. What to do if good gasoline is difficult to find? That's another question. At the very least, you shouldn’t look for gas stations with minimal prices, as you simply risk running into diluted fuel. The injection nozzles should always be adjusted and cleaned, this will have a positive effect on the starting time.
The spark plugs are flooded: what should the driver do?
Let's say the engine won't start and you are sure that the reason is the gasoline on the spark plugs. In such a situation, it is useful to know what can be done if the spark plugs are flooded, how to start the car in such conditions, etc.
Let's start with the fact that there are several available ways to dry flooded candles. To begin with, the instruction manual for many cars specifically states that if the spark plugs on an injection engine are filled with gasoline, then they need to be unscrewed using a spark plug wrench and dried. Then the engine should be cranked with the starter for about 10 seconds with the spark plugs removed. Next, the spark plugs are screwed back in, after which an attempt is made to start the internal combustion engine in normal mode.
If the engine does not start with purging, then the spark plugs will have to be dried manually and their condition assessed. To do this, they need to be unscrewed, after which the carbon deposits are cleaned. You can use a soft brush (a toothbrush will do) or a brush with metal bristles. In the second case, you need to be careful and clean without effort. Candles are dried with a household or hair dryer, calcined on a gas burner, and placed in the oven. Next, you need to check the gap between the electrodes, after which you can screw the elements back into the engine. As a result, restarting should proceed without difficulty.
Let us add that many experts recommend not implementing the solutions described above if it is possible to immediately purchase new spark plugs. In simple words, cleaning and calcination leads to the fact that the service life of the spark plug after such actions is noticeably reduced, the gaps are lost, and these elements work worse after cleaning. It turns out that it is more profitable to purchase relatively inexpensive new spark plugs than to clean, dry and then reinstall the old ones. It is also noted that it is advisable to change simple spark plugs from the average price range every 15-25 thousand kilometers traveled, regardless of their condition and appearance.
It should also be taken into account that if new or cleaned spark plugs are constantly flooded, then the cause must be looked for separately, and not just solve the problem by cleaning or changing these elements. In this case, the engine needs in-depth diagnostics; the ignition system, injectors, ignition coil, Hall sensor, temperature sensor, etc. are checked.
We diagnose the breakdown
The penetration of gasoline into the lubricant can be judged by the following factors:
- Motor fluid has become less viscous.
- The lubricant from the dipstick flashes. Oil, without foreign impurities, practically does not burn; if fuel is mixed with it, then checking this is quite simple. Place the dipstick with a certain amount of engine fluid near the flame of the lighter. If there is gasoline in the lubricant, there will be a bright flash on the dipstick.
- Increased fuel consumption.
- Reducing the power of the power unit.
- The appearance of extraneous noise in the motor.
- A drop of oil taken from the dipstick, when applied to a napkin or paper, forms a zone of transparent material around itself, which quickly evaporates.
If one of these signs is present, do not panic, try to find and eliminate the cause yourself.
Reasons requiring specialist intervention
The most unpleasant reason for gasoline getting into the oil of an engine with an injector is a malfunction of the piston group. The cylinder walls may be deformed, cracked, scratched or chipped. With prolonged use of oil with poor cleaning properties, the oil scraper rings become coked.
A breakdown is determined by measuring the compression in each cylinder. Measurements may differ from each other by one unit. If there is a larger gap in the compression values, we can talk about a malfunction in the specified cylinder. In such a situation, it is impossible to do without a major engine overhaul.
You can try to restore coked oil scraper rings using special chemicals, but such manipulations do not always produce a good effect.
What to do in this case?
Press the accelerator pedal all the way and turn the key in the ignition.
Crank the starter for 8-10 seconds. At the end of this time, the pedal can be returned to its original position.
In most cases, the engine starts.
The peculiarity of this method is that when the gas is fully pressed, the fuel supply to the engine is shut off, and the spark plugs themselves are blown exclusively with air.
If the engine still does not start, then you need to dry the spark plugs.
What functions does an injector perform in a car?
Absolutely all modern internal combustion engines, both diesel and gasoline, have a fuel injection mechanism. The nozzle in this system plays the role of a pump, supplying a very thin stream of fuel under high pressure and being one of the main elements of the injection system.
An engine injector is an electromagnetic valve that operates in accordance with a special program embedded in the engine control unit. This valve ensures a dosed supply of fuel to the cylinders. And today an injector means precisely an organized system of nozzles.
By purpose, these elements can be:
Fuel is supplied to each injector under a certain pressure due to the supply of electrical impulses from the control unit to the electromagnet. These pulses respectively open and close the needle valve at the right moments and thus regulate the flow of fuel through the nozzle channel into the cylinder. The longer the pulse lasts, the longer the valve will be open and the more fuel will flow into the injection element. The duration is regulated by the engine control unit. In addition to the duration of fuel supply, the nozzle mechanism allows you to create different shapes of the fuel torch and produce a jet at different angles. These variable parameters have a significant impact on the creation of the fuel mixture in the engine.
Not all car owners can immediately find an injection system in the engine. The location of the injectors depends on the type of injection used in a particular case:
Thus, injection elements are an important component of a modern engine, the uninterrupted operation of which completely depends on these elements. Therefore, the injector needs periodic inspection and flushing.
How to do it?
The tools you can use are a regular toothbrush (or a metal brush) and a hair dryer (for more effective drying).
If you have the opportunity to take the candles home, you can “calcinate” them in the oven or directly on the burners. But this method is only temporary.
If the candles have already expired, then it is better to simply change them.
It happens that almost every day the spark plugs on the injector are filled. In such a situation, it is necessary to carry out a full check of the elements - for the presence of spark output, cleanliness of the injectors, quality of the spark, and so on.
Interesting read: Iridium spark plugs, pros and cons.
There is a spark, the starter turns normally, but the spark plugs are flooded
Quite often you can encounter a situation where there is a spark, the spark plugs are flooded, and the starter spins the crankshaft well. In such a case, the spark plugs may require a separate check, since the presence of a spark on them does not mean that the same spark will always be created under pressure. In other words, if there was a spark on the unscrewed spark plug, then after installation on the engine it may disappear. The reason is increased pressure in the combustion chamber, which is created during the operation of the internal combustion engine. To find out, you need to carry out diagnostics on a special stand for checking spark plugs, which simulates the operation of these elements taking into account high pressure (similar to the operation of spark plugs in the combustion chamber).
At the same time, the injectors themselves and ECM sensors may need diagnostics. For example, in the event of a malfunction, the coolant temperature sensor may send incorrect data to the computer. In this case, the control unit enriches the mixture and the injectors overflow fuel. In rare cases, the electronic engine control unit itself fails.
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Why check injectors?
Today, automakers around the world no longer produce carburetor cars. Injection engines have proven to be more reliable, more powerful and consume less fuel. The working mixture is supplied to the combustion chambers of an injection engine through nozzles. Over time, they can fail or become dirty. This will be indicated by certain symptoms. Now let's look at them.
Checking the injectors
Signs of faulty injector nozzles:
The listed signs may indicate other problems, therefore, to ensure that any specific injector is faulty, you will need to check each of them.