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indyboy
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Oct 1, 2009, 9:13 AM
Post #1 of 22
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Disable a fuel injector
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1997
Dodge Neon
4 cylinder
116000
My dads neon has a misfire coming from his 4th cylinder, he doesn't have the money presently to fix the car and only drives to the store/post office type drives (he is 92). Is it possible to just disable the fuel injector on that cylinder for the time being?
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Hammer Time
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Oct 1, 2009, 12:46 PM
Post #2 of 22
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Re: Disable a fuel injector
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Sure, you can just unplug it but I certainly don't think that is a smart thing to do.
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Hammer Time
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Oct 1, 2009, 1:02 PM
Post #4 of 22
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Re: Disable a fuel injector
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If the engine is already damaged that seriously, it's not going to get any worse and there is no fire risk. Unplugging the injector will at least help prevent the Catalytic Converter from being ruined. Having only 3 working cylinders though doesn't leave much room for further problems. Losing another cylinder would probably make it die.
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indyboy
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Oct 1, 2009, 1:22 PM
Post #5 of 22
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Re: Disable a fuel injector
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thank you sir for your help. We will see what happens. Should we put a plug or something in the hose to that fuel injector? What will happen to the fuel that is in that line? How does the injector get the fuel?
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Hammer Time
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Oct 1, 2009, 1:26 PM
Post #6 of 22
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Re: Disable a fuel injector
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Don't worry about the fuel. Just unplug the electric plug on that injector and it won't ever open. You can't cut the fuel pressure off just the electrical controls for the injector.
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indyboy
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Oct 1, 2009, 1:32 PM
Post #7 of 22
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Re: Disable a fuel injector
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Thank you for your help.
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re-tired
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Oct 1, 2009, 6:48 PM
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Re: Disable a fuel injector
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In the area I live in the area churches have set up a fund so that those who are going thru hard times through no fault of their own . Several local shops and parts houses have agreed to give labor and parts at a deep discounts even at cost for some . You may want to ask around . There's no shame in accepting a helping hand.
LIFE'S SHORT GO FISH
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Sidom
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Oct 1, 2009, 7:14 PM
Post #9 of 22
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Re: Disable a fuel injector
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Good advise re-tired..... My church has similar programs.......
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indyboy
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Oct 2, 2009, 11:31 AM
Post #10 of 22
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Re: Disable a fuel injector
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Thank you for the advise but I think the monies could go to better things. If it won't damage the car I will just unplug the fuel injector and live with poor gas mileage since we pay dad's bills.
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Tom Greenleaf
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Oct 2, 2009, 2:14 PM
Post #11 of 22
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Re: Disable a fuel injector
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Arggh! Understand and sympathize with the limited budget for this. Ask around as said - perhaps even a salvage yard could help?? If I had a known good one on hand I'd send it to you but don't.
OK: A 4 cylinder missing one is going to behave real lousy at best. Even 8s don't like missing one but do better. Know this. Most of the time when one of 4 = 25% you still don't have what you would think would be 75% - it just doesn't work that way. There's also a concern of mine that others may agree with that one cold cylinder may stress out the head gasket as expected heat would uneven of course and that's hard on head gaskets and more.
I suggest asking for a reduced rate or the Church thing - all of it.
Hey - techs are people too and know that every tech here volunteers their skills to help others.
I know it's hard but this would be better off fixed for sure and for your Dad and the car's drivability.
Good luck with whatever you decide and hope it will work out somehow to fix it,
T
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Sidom
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Oct 2, 2009, 7:21 PM
Post #12 of 22
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Re: Disable a fuel injector
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I have to agree with Tom here, if you are planning on keeping the car I wouldn't purposely disable a cylinder as a fix and then plan on driving it for an extended period of time.
Have you diagnosed the problem? Maybe just a bad wire or plug. I know money is tight but if it's something that easy, a cheap set of plugs & wires aren't that much and it doesn't get any easier than putting on plugs & wire in Neon.
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Hammer Time
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Oct 3, 2009, 5:15 AM
Post #13 of 22
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Re: Disable a fuel injector
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Hey guys, As I understand it, the car has a burnt valve and not worth tearing down but only needed for a couple miles a week. I understand his thinking here.
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Tom Greenleaf
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Oct 3, 2009, 11:00 AM
Post #14 of 22
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Re: Disable a fuel injector
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Looking back I saw that. Don't know how that was diagnosed but if just burnt I have had luck with one anyway just turning it to a new position from under valve cover! ??
T
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Tom Greenleaf
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Oct 3, 2009, 4:44 PM
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Re: Disable a fuel injector
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HT - I can't explain why that worked?? It was one of my own cars that I had for perhaps five years and had to do that once a year and it totally worked?? Always the same valve on a 79 Buick X code 350 (last real Buick engine I think)
I towed a 7+ thousand pound trailer with that car so it was stressed out a bit. Known valve issue and as said turning it went from zero compression to new again and I don't know why???? Was an easy valve cover, greased as I expected it on yet another ancient car I owned! Needle nose vise grips did the trick!?
T
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Hammer Time
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Oct 3, 2009, 4:47 PM
Post #17 of 22
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Re: Disable a fuel injector
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The compression came back because the burn in the valve didn't align with the burn in the seat any longer but I wouldn't expect that to work for long if at all and they would have to be at the right condition and not too sevely burned for it to help.
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Tom Greenleaf
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Oct 3, 2009, 5:08 PM
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Re: Disable a fuel injector
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HT - As said IDK? Used that car a lot and the silly trick would work for about 10 12,000 miles and I still don't know why. Of course a real Buick was a different bird with an engine that wouldn't quit and was properly cared for other than the towing was in excess for the car. 75 mile runs or more with that trailer took a toll on that poor car. 79 Electra with high miles.
Had it been a mint car I'd have done a real valve job but that trick worked and may never work for another??
T
PS: My marine days of towing huge boats with cars as I didn't own a truck at the time which is nothing but a PITA and will be last one............Too old and tired now for boating stuff and standing on my head in a bildge to do stuff - arggh!
(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Oct 3, 2009, 5:10 PM)
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Hammer Time
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Oct 3, 2009, 5:13 PM
Post #19 of 22
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Re: Disable a fuel injector
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Never had any use for climbing into bilges. I'm going out fishing on a 47' Jersey tomorrow morning. They are catching some Dolphin, Wahoo and Blackfin tuna out there lately. Maybe we'll get lucky.
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Tom Greenleaf
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Oct 3, 2009, 5:18 PM
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Re: Disable a fuel injector
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To heck with cars - have a great time!
Tom
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Sidom
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Oct 3, 2009, 5:22 PM
Post #21 of 22
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Re: Disable a fuel injector
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I missed the burnt valve and can relate to the situation. If it's going to be driven then it would probably good to disable the injector, it going to need engine work anyway.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Oct 3, 2009, 5:26 PM
Post #22 of 22
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Re: Disable a fuel injector
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The guy is 92 and goes to the corner store and back a couple times. He doesn't need much out of the car.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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