Fuel injector o-ring replacement options

Car:
2005
Citroen C3 Desire
1.4 petrol


Hi all, been doing a bit of diagnostics today for a poor start when engine warm and sat for 10 mins or so.

Symptoms:
Starts well when cold.

Starts fine when shut off and started again relatively quickly

Long crank and hard start when warm but left for 10 mins or so.


Based on the symptoms I suspected fuel injector issues.


Been out this morning (did not start engine) and pulled each plug. Plugs from Cy 2,3,4 dry but cy 1 wet and smells of fuel.

Put new plugs in and started, runs ok but I put my ear to each cylinder and definitely a very slight tick noise (probably miss) to cy 1. So I’m quite sure I’ve found the problem.


So what’s everyone’s thoughts on remidying. I’ve looked at an entire new injector and it’s looking to be £40 from euro car parts. But I was wondering if it might just be the o rings.

I can’t actually find the o rings for sale anywhere for the 1.4 petrol only seeing diesels

Mike187 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 03, 2019 3:48 pm I can’t actually find the o rings for sale anywhere for the 1.4 petrol only seeing diesels

Hi Mike187

Have a look here for petrol injector o-rings.

It may be worth looking for fault codes if you suspect an injector problem. I've found that petrol injectors fail because of an electrical issue rather than mechanical leakage like with diesels, the fuel system pressure isn't as high. The cleaver little C3 will throw up a code for a faulty injector.

If an O ring has failed between the injector and manifold you'll have a petrol leak so watch out! If you do take the fuel system apart it's worth replacing all the O rings. There's a certain law that says one will leak when you've got everything back together if you re-use them.

So interestingly I’ve been investigating more and it looks like the one that has may be my culprit is different to other injectors. It has a different colour ring around it. Green rather than blue.

I am wondering if it is a cheap injector the previous owner replaced.

Car also has aftermarket Valeo coils.

I’ve also found that this car suffers from the washer jet leak onto injectors. I wonder if that leaked through failed injector electronically then replaced with cheap injector and that’s failed now.

All theories and probably quite out there but I suspect I’m on the right track and am going to fit a new injector tomorrow as it’s not overly difficult to do.


I also don’t have a code reader - but will look to get one in the near future, is there a recommended side to get one from?

And yes lincs - Haynes recomends new o rings on all injectors as a preventative also!

Mike187 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 04, 2019 6:42 pm I also don’t have a code reader - but will look to get one in the near future, is there a recommended side to get one from?

This one is well received for C3 engine faults (click here for KW808)

Mike187 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 04, 2019 6:42 pm I’ve also found that this car suffers from the washer jet leak onto injectors. I wonder if that leaked through failed injector electronically then replaced with cheap injector and that’s failed now.

Quite possibly

There is a topic for the upgraded washer jets for the C3 - here.

Thanks, will check the reader out

I saw that thread also, I gave the jets a test and sure enough they’re dripping down into the engine bay. So ive ordered the replacement jets

]https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1x-Bosch-O-Ring-1280210752-3165142142883/232606607460...

So these would be the correct o rings that seat into the engine?

This is the diagram and part numbers I have for the 8v 1.4 petrol C3 engine injectors

No2. 1984.H2 ENGINE INJECTOR

No3. 1981.53 ENGINE INJECTOR SEAL (O-Ring)


1981.53 cross references to 13640148174; 1346226; 12482706; ERR7309; L3Y1-13-253 and FEBEST-MCP-003

So if you find an o-ring with any of these numbers they should replace the ones marked as 3 in the diagram.

There is always room for error and you may have different injectors fitted than the ones specified for a 2005 1.4 8v petrol TU3JP running on RON95 Petrol.