In order to run efficiently, your GM vehicle needs a proper ratio of fuel and oxygen for combustion. The fuel injector feeds fuel to the engine for this process. A number of problems can occur with the way your GM runs if you have a bad fuel injector. Keep an eye out for some of the most common symptoms of a bad fuel injector so you can fix the problem and prevent lasting damage to your engine.
Reduced fuel economy is one of the main problems you'll encounter if you have a bad fuel injector. There are a couple reasons for this. The first is that your fuel injector is feeding too much fuel to the engine. This will cause the engine to burn off far more fuel than necessary. The second symptom is slightly more complicated. Fuel injectors must spray fuel to the engine in a specific pattern to maximize fuel burning efficiency. If this pattern is broken for any reason, it will result in inefficient fuel burning. If you notice that your GM vehicle is not able to maintain its normal gas mileage, the fuel injector should be one of the first things you check.
Stalling is another classic symptom of a bad fuel injector. Some fuel injectors do not feed enough gas to the engine. Not enough gas and too much oxygen mean that the combustion process is not possible or too weak to power your car. This can result in your engine dying, and you'll have to start your car again to get it running. This symptom can also be caused by the spray pattern being interrupted.
Black exhaust is a less common symptom that drivers will encounter if they have a bad fuel injector. If there is black exhaust, though, rest assured you most likely have a bad fuel injector. Black exhaust results from your engine receiving too much fuel. This causes the fuel to burn too rich and comes out as thick, black exhaust from the tail pipe.
Sometimes a fuel injector can be damaged to the point where your car won't even start. This means either too little fuel or no fuel at all is reaching your engine. It's not uncommon for drivers to think that a car that won't start is the result of a dead battery. You can easily tell if the battery is the problem by turning on the ignition. If your dash board lights come on, the battery is fine.
