There are two things that will cause your tachometer needle to move erratically. The first one is a vacuum leak in the engine. The second is a problem with your vehicle’s fuel injectors. In this blog post, University Auto Repair is going to talk about fuel injector problems, including clogs and leaks. Aside from a dancing tachometer needle, here are other signs that you need to have the fuel injectors cleaned professionally or replaced because they are cracked and leaking.
Dead Engine
As you know, the fuel injectors spray the gasoline or diesel fuel into the engine. Specifically, they spray the fuel into the cylinders if you have direct fuel injection. If the fuel injectors are caked with carbon deposits, they will clog and be unable to administer fuel into the cylinders. When this happens, you will have a hard time getting your vehicle started if you can get it started at all. Unfortunately, you may have a dead engine until such time as you get the fuel injectors cleaned to remove the carbon deposits.
Misfiring Engine
Problems with fuel delivery can also cause your engine to misfire. Specifically, you may notice that your vehicle sputters when you are driving at faster speeds. This is an indication that the fuel the engine needs to maintain the speed is not being supplied. If the injectors are clogged, this will prevent the additional fuel from getting into the cylinders. As with the dead engine, you will continue to have problems with your engine misfiring and sputtering until you get the fuel injectors cleaned.
Poor Fuel Economy
The injectors can also directly affect your vehicle’s fuel economy. Specifically, if they are leaking, the engine will burn excess fuel that makes its way into the combustion chamber. Naturally, this will affect how many miles you get to each gallon. Even if the injectors are clogged, this, too, can burn excess gas because the engine is not running efficiently. This can be frustrating as gas prices continue to go up throughout the country. It can get expensive to keep your tank full.
Rough Idling
Finally, if your vehicle’s idle is rough, it can indicate that there is a problem with the injectors. Again, if they have carbon buildup on the nozzles, they will be unable to supply a steady stream of gasoline or diesel fuel. This can directly affect how well your vehicle idles.
Call University Auto Repair in Flagstaff, AZ, today if you are experiencing any of the problems listed above. We’d be happy to inspect your fuel injectors and correct the problem.
