Jeff Doble

I briefly attempted to pull out a fuel injector yesterday with no success. Is the preferred method to grab the threaded portion of the fuel line with vise grips pry that way?

Do you guys pry the vise grips or the threaded collar of the fuel line? I was afraid to pry too hard although I did exert a decent amount of force before quitting. When I pried against the vise grips they would eventually lose their grip and would slip off. And, yes, I did have them clamped very tightly.

Does the injector itself unscrew? It seemed that the hex part of the injector just turned for the sake of tightening the fuel line and not for unscrewing itself from the block.

Any pointers for a 'shady' tree mechanic?

JD

rikgus

I had to replace one on an old 5000 I had, and was surprised at how hard I had to pull. The o-rings used to hold them in place get kinda hard and brittle, and really hang on. But that's all that hold them in place. Just that o-ring.
Make sure you get a new o-ring for each injector. You won't be able to use the old one. And I sprayed some WD-40 on the new one to help it pop back in. WD-40 may not be the best, but use something to slicken it up. Maybe some silicone would be better.

Dwight V.

Yeah, what the other guy said.
Memory fades, but I think I did something like put a vise grip or pliers around the injector, then pried with a screwdriver against the head for leverage. They can be bastards to get out. No, they aren't threaded. Yes, you will need new seals for sure. Dishwashing soap (liquid) is the best lube I've found for rubber bushings and stuff.

MikTip

<center><img src="http://www.samstagsales.com/images/vw_us1123-4.jpg"></center><p>Vise-grips tend to damage the FI! ;O)

Plus if your injectors have been in the head for a number of years, its seals are hard as rock, so it will be nearly impossible to remove, even with special tool! ;O)

Jeff Doble

$18 shipped seems like a lot of money for a bent piece of metal. I may wind up buying it if I can't get them out after another try. I doubt the injectors have ever been out of the head so the rubber bits are likely super hard.

JD

Evilclown

I've never seen them do damage as long as they're clamped onto the hex of the injector itself, and not the fuel line. OTOH, I've seen some nasty stuff happen when you put the vise grips on the fuel line hex and start prying away. But yeah, ideally the special tool is the way to go.

MikTip

Before you remove them order the rubber goods! ;O)

Jeff Doble

I've had the injector seal kit from Blau for at least 6 months now