The fuel pump is responsible for pumping fuel into the cylinders of the engine and performs an extremely important function in the running of a car.
Fuel injectors are susceptible to becoming dirty and often require cleaning, when they become clogged they can cause noticeable problems when driving.
There are some tell-tale signs that your fuel injector needs cleaning so as soon as you see the following indicators, take your Citroen to a mechanic.
You can buy fuel injector cleaning kits and perform the job yourself, however this will require getting your hands dirty and removing the part from the engine.
Unless you are a trained professional, this can be a difficult job which is why we would recommend that you leave the work to mechanic!
However, if you would like to carry out the work yourself, here is a step by step guide on how to clean a fuel injector.
Buy a fuel injection cleaning kit
The first step is the easiest, simply go to any shop around that sells car cleaning kits and get your hands on a fuel injection cleaning kit.
There may be more than one type of kit as different so make sure to get the right one for your car.
You may even have to assemble the kit yourself by buying cleaning fluid and other materials if there is not a full kit on sale.
Make sure to ask for help if you don’t know what to look for.
Find the fuel injector
Each car is different and so the fuel injector will be located in different places. The easies way to find the part is by using the manual that came with your car when your first bought it. This will list where the fuel injection pump is.
Disconnecting the fuel injection pump
This is where the job starts to get technical and we would once again recommend that you only follow these steps if you are familiar with car maintenance and are able to navigate a car engine with ease.
The fuel injectors will be connected to the fuel pump and there will be a few of them.
Remove the injectors and connect a fuel return line or U tube which will divert the fuel back to the tank.
Specific vehicles will require the complete removal of the fuel pump or relay for proper cleaning to be possible.
There should be a section in your car owners manual that tells you about how to disconnect the injectors from the pump and connect a U tube or return line so pay close attention to the instructions.
Disconnect the pressure regulator line
You should consult your car owners manual to locate the vacuum line, once you’ve found where it is in the engine, remove the tube.
Connect the cleaning kit
The first thing you’ll need to do is locate the fuel pressure test port and connect your new cleaning kit.
The kit itself will have detailed instructions on how to perform this task.
The cleaner fluid itself is flammable so it’s vital that you don’t spill any of it over your engine or get it on the injectors themselves.
Open fuel cap
The cleaning kit works by shooting cleaning fluid and air at high pressure around the fuel system, however there needs to be somewhere for the air to escape just in case there is a blockage and a build up of pressure begins.
Ignoring this precaution could result in serious damage being caused to your car.
Turning on your engine
Make sure that all of the connections are properly fixed and ensure the fuel pump is switched off.
Now its time to turn on the engine.
The cleaner will then circulate through the injectors until the cycle is complete, make sure to follow the exact instructions on your specific kit as the time to leave the engine on may vary from kit to kit and engine type to engine type.
emoving the cleaner and reconnecting components
When you have switched the engine off, you will be free to remove the cleaner and reconnect all of the other parts that you have disconnected.
Once more, follow the instructions on in your car owners manual and on the cleaning kit itself to ensure this is all done properly.
Remember to close the fuel cap once you have completed cleaning your fuel injector.
Turning on the engine
This is the moment of truth and when you will find out whether you have managed to complete the job properly.
Turn on your car engine and listen to see if there are any abnormal sounds coming for the engine. If this is the case then you should take your car to a mechanic immediately and tell them what has happened.
However, if your car is still suffering from the symptoms we listed earlier in the guide, your fuel injector pump and injectors may need replacing and cleaning them has simply had no effect as they are damaged.
Fuel injection repair
If cleaning the parts of the fuel injection system has not resolved your issue, you will need to take your car in for repair.
As there are several parts that make up the system there may only be certain parts that require repair or replacement so costs and time taken to complete the work will vary greatly.
If you have attempted to clean the system with using the advice above, make sure to tell the mechanic as they will likely attempt to carry this work out in a first attempt to resolve the issue.
Finding a mechanic you can trust to do a good job and charge a fair price, is not always easy, which is why we simplified the process.
We work with a network of 8,000 mechanics and garages across the UK so we can find competitive fuel injection repair and cleaning deals for you.
- Enter your car registration number
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You can then compare the quotes and read reviews from previous customers to find the best deal in , before booking online.
