How to Start a Car With Bad Fuel Injectors?

Are you dealing with starting issues due to bad fuel injectors? Well, it can be frustrating, we know that. So, if you don’t know how to start a car with bad fuel injectors, this is the place where you get answers to all your questions. 

How to Start a Car With Bad Fuel Injectors?

To start a car with bad fuel injectors you can try manually priming the fuel system by turning the ignition key to the “On” position without starting the engine, and then back to the “Off” position. You should repeat this process several times in order to build up fuel pressure in the system and improve the chances of starting your car.

Another method to turn on a car with faulty injectors is to start fluid sprayed directly into the intake manifold while cranking the engine. This can provide a temporary fuel source to get the engine running, but it’s essential to use starting fluid sparingly; if not this can cause damage to the engine.

Additionally, you can try jump-starting the car using another vehicle or a portable jump starter. We’ve seen sometimes, a boost in electrical power helping overcome starting issues caused by bad fuel injectors.

However, it’s important to note that these are temporary solutions and you should not try to start or run your car with damaged fuel injectors for a long time.

If you’re experiencing persistent starting problems due to bad fuel injectors, we strongly recommend having them inspected and repaired by a qualified mechanic at your earliest. 

Can Starting a Car With Bad Injectors Cause Damage to the Engine? 

Yes, starting a car with bad fuel injectors can potentially cause damage to the engine. When fuel injectors are faulty, they may not deliver the correct amount of fuel to the engine. This will hamper the combustion process of a vehicle which is taking place continuously when you drive.

Starting with faulty fuel injectors can cause problems such as rough idling, misfiring, and reduced power output. Continuously attempting to start the engine under these conditions can potentially cause damage to components such as the spark plugs, piston rings, and catalytic converter.

In addition to the damage to the engine, this can lead to overheating or excessive fuel consumption. That is why we always recommend our readers to fix the fuel injector issues promptly.

How do Bad Fuel Injectors Affect Engine Starting in Cold Weather?

Bad fuel injectors can significantly impact the engine starting in cold weather conditions. As you can assume, when temperatures go down, fuel systems tend to become more sensitive to issues such as clogging, which is a common symptom of faulty injectors.

In cold weather, fuel may thicken. This will make it difficult for injectors to deliver the correct amount of fuel to the engine.

This can result in difficulties of starting, rough idling, and hesitation during acceleration. When the injectors don’t do the job expected, it will cause many issues as we described earlier.

Therefore, fixing fuel injector issues before cold weather sets in is essential. If your fuel injectors are damaged and you are middle of cold weather, it’s better to get the issue fixed without trying to turn on the car with malfunctioning fuel injectors. 

Can You Bypass Bad Fuel Injectors to Start a Car Temporarily?

Yes, you can bypass bad fuel injectors temporarily to start a car, but we don’t recommend doing so as a long-term solution.

There are multiple fuel injectors in a car and if one fuel injector is damaged, you can disconnect the electrical connector to that faulty injector. This will disable it from delivering fuel which means the engine can run on the remaining cylinders, with reduced performance.

However, the downside of bypassing injectors is that it creates imbalances in fuel delivery and may cause further engine damage if left unresolved. So, although you can bypass the fuel injectors to start your vehicle as a temporary solution, it’s your responsibility to fix the issue by cleaning or replacing the fuel injectors ASAP.

What Will Unclog Fuel Injectors?

Note that expecting fuel injectors to unclog themselves is not something that you should think of. There are several methods that can help unclog fuel injectors, depending on the severity of the injector clog. Here are some methods you can try

• Using fuel injector cleaners or additives designed to remove deposits and contaminants from the injectors can help dissolve clogs and improve fuel flow.
• Professional cleaning services or DIY methods such as using a fuel injector cleaning kit with specialized tools and solvents can physically remove stubborn deposits from the injectors.
• There are places where mechanics use specialized equipment to perform high-pressure cleaning of fuel injectors. This will effectively dislodge and remove debris causing clogs in the fuel injectors.
• Ultrasonic cleaning involves placing the fuel injectors in a solution and subjecting them to ultrasonic vibrations. This process will remove deposits without causing damage to the injectors.

Read our comprehensive guide on “Common problems after injection cleaning” for more info.