Toyota Fuel Injector Buyer's Guide

The fuel injectors are an important part of your Toyota's fuel system, delivering gasoline to the cylinders for combustion. Modern injectors are designed to last a long time but eventually wear out and need to be replaced to maintain your engine's performance. In this guide, we'll cover fuel injectors and answer the following questions:

1. What is a fuel injector and what causes them to go bad?
2. How do you diagnose a bad fuel injector?
3. OEM vs. aftermarket fuel injectors - which is better?
4. How do you replace a fuel injector?

What Is A Fuel Injector And Why Do They Go Bad?

Image Credit: PeterFinnTheCarDoctor

A fuel injector is a device that sprays a high-pressure stream of atomized gasoline into the engine's combustion chambers. It works using the same principle as a nozzle on a spray bottle. This spray is timed and metered to maximize combustion so the engine delivers optimum performance. The fuel injector is a separate component from the fuel pump, which moves gasoline from the fuel tank to the injectors.

Fuel injectors can eventually wear out or get clogged with impurities, reducing their performance. When a fuel injector's performance is reduced, it sprays less fuel, causing your engine to produce less power.

How To Diagnose A Bad Fuel Injector

If a fuel injector goes bad, it's either due to an electrical or mechanical issue that causes one or more of the following symptoms:

• Engine runs rough or misfires
• Rough or uneven idle
• The tachometer begins to twitch or shake
• Poor fuel economy
• The vehicle is hard to start

If your Toyota's check engine light is on, you can use an OBD-II scanner to troubleshoot these issues. For fuel injectors, these fall into one of two categories:

1. Electrical-related fuel injector problems trigger codes in the P0200 to P0208 range. A P0200 code indicates a general fault or problems with multiple injectors. Codes P0201 to P0208 indicate a problem with a specific injector.
2. P0300 to P0308 range codes indicate fuel-related issues. The format is the same as the electrical codes, with P0300 indicating a general issue or multiple injector problems. P0301 to P0308 codes indicate problems for specific injectors.

If you have questions about diagnosing a bad fuel injector, check out the article at this link.

OEM Vs. Aftermarket Fuel Injectors

If you want to save money up front, it's tempting to buy aftermarket fuel injectors. However, OEM Toyota fuel injectors can save you more money in the long run for these reasons:

• OEM fuel injectors are made to fit your Toyota car or truck and take into account things like engine size, fuel pressure, and fuel flow rates.
• Toyota OEM fuel injectors are made with high-quality materials and are tested to ensure they meet Toyota factory specifications.
• All Toyota OEM parts, including fuel injectors, are backed by Toyota's manufacturer warranty of 12 months with unlimited miles.

You can read this comprehensive blog for more info on OEM vs. aftermarket fuel injectors.

How To Replace A Bad Fuel Injector

Replacing a bad fuel injector requires you to disconnect the battery and loosen or disconnect the fuel rail. Then perform the following steps:

• Disconnect the electrical connector on the fuel injector.
• Remove the fuel injector from the intake manifold by pulling it straight out.
• Remove the fuel injector from the fuel rail.
  • Most injectors are held with a metal clip and can be removed with a screwdriver.
  • Have a towel handy to clean up any gasoline spills.
  • Always have a fire extinguisher nearby when fuel may be spilled.
• Install the new fuel injector by pressing it into the fuel rail until it stops. Then attach the metal clip.
• Push the fuel injector into the intake manifold.
• Reattach the fuel injector electrical connector.
• Reconnect the fuel rail and hook up the battery.

Olathe Toyota Parts Center Is The Best Place For Fuel Injector Help

If your Toyota car or truck has fuel injector problems, let Olathe Toyota Parts Center help!

• We offer a variety of resources and can help you diagnose common Toyota trouble codes.
• We offer genuine OEM fuel injectors and other Toyota parts at wholesale prices.

If you've got questions about the fuel injectors in your vehicle, or need assistance in finding the right OEM parts, just give us a call!