So I finally got fed up trying to figure what was wrong with my truck and took it to a shop. This is a new place I have never been to before and they're starting to come off as a little fishy. I've got a bad fuel injector on a 94 f150 5.0. They told me it would be almost $450 to replace it and i thought that sounded a little high.

They they told me the price of the injector alone (remanufactured) was about $120 but I've found them online (also remanufactured) for as little as $25. Called Napa and they have them for about $70 brand new.

So what gives? Is this price outrageous? Should I take it somewhere else?

I've also been considering doing the job on my own but all I have at my disposal is a Chilton book. I've been working on small engines for years but nothing bigger that 150cc two strokes so this would be my first foray into larger engines (beyond simple maintenance, that is). How hard would this job be for a solo newb?

 

Go to the junkyard, find a truck like your or any of the cars listed in the Injector Rebuild thread linked in my Signature. Once you have a set that you have tested to work(supply momentary power to them to see if they click) clean them, rebuild them and put them in yourself. All you need is a ratchet set, extensions and a special torx bit for the center bolt of the plenum. Not sure of size, so just buy a set of them. All together you shouldn't spend $125 TOTAL including new tools. Also suggest new gaskets for the EGR and plenum. Should be ~$10 for those.

Now on to the bad injector. How do they know its bad? How do they test it? What were your symptoms to have to take it in to be looked at?

 

Evan,
Great write-up on the injectors.
Yes go to another shop if you decide to have it fixed. Find an establish shop that has a good reputation. One way is to ask parts guys.
Craig

 

Just checked out that write up - seems super easy and I've been looking forward to making my first junkyard excursion pretty soon anyhow.

The truck was having a shuddering problem while coasting around 40-45 mph, only with the gas engaged and only after the rpm's dropped down really low (around 1100-1200). At first I was worried this was a transmission problem but the truck shifts fine and the fluid is super clean. Honestly it felt just as if the engine was starving/misfiring/trying to switch off. As it was having this same problem at idle (in the same rpm range) I first suspected electrical but there was nothing I could detect after changing plugs, wires, cap. Instead of taking further shots in the dark i decided to take it in.

If nothing else I'm relieved to find it's not the torque converter. Fuel injector sounds about right to me for the issue I was having. I was pretty sure if it wasn't spark it had to be gas. I didn't ask how they came to that conclusion but I'm confident in the assessment, just not the price they quoted. Think I'll give it a shot on my own. How do i run voltage to the injector to test it?

Oh, and Evan, my 94 is a clone of your 92 - on the outside anyway: flare side, same color and everything. Not quite as nice as yours but I hope to change that soon; only had her about a month now.

 

Sorry for the possible hijack but I have a question for Evan_P, will that EV1 rebuild kit that you posted in your how to thread work on my stock injectors? I have a 93 F150 5.0L.

 

You can always send a PM or Email to members. Go to their name & a box will open telling if & which you can do.
Just an idea.
Craig

 

Yes it will.

 

Typically when an injector fails resistance goes to infinity. Should be easy enough to verify the supposed bad injector. Did they tell you which one?

Regardless, I'll confirm that $450 to replace one injector is criminal.

 

Use a 9VDC battery across the injector pins. Do not use the truck battery voltage as that could burn the injector coils out.

 

Right, that's why I suggested the resistance check. It "finds" most of the failed ones without any risk of hurting the good ones.