Help with Fuel Injector! 2 broken/lost pintle caps

[b0nzai213]

So I properly let the PB Blaster settle in before trying to remove the fuel rail with the injectors.

As careful as I was, 2 of the injectors had the rubber gaskets and the plastic pintle cap (little ring that holds the rubber gasket down) broken off.

I retrieved the gasket fine, I just don't know where the plastic Pintle cap is.

So here's my concern.....

1) did the pintle cap somehow fall into the cylinder? I don't know where else it would go.
1a) If it did fall in, how do i get it out? And it seems dumb from a design perspective as these things can easily break on removal and would always fall in.

2) Can I reinstall the injectors without a pintle cap?


Here are some pics showing the missing plastic pintle cap (farthest to right).

There is one with a white ring..that is a brand new one I just installed.

[CHECKERED]

If you need extra injectors I have some for sale.

If the plastic piece did fall into the cylinder, do not worry it will simply disintegrate into ash/carbon when you start the car…plastic vs metal = metal wins

[B6JoeS4]

plastic vs metal = metal wins

not too sure about that. i mean......paper beats rock....so yeah......

[alwaysaudi]

Had the same problem with mine when I did my IM spacers...I saw a few pieces on the the top of the valve I could get at with so of my old surgical instruments I keep in my tool box but didn't worry about it. I just ordered some extra pintle caps from JHM with my latest order so the rubber bushings stay in place.

[b0nzai213]

thanks for all the tips. i was freaking out that I would have to remove my entire engine to find a stupid piece of plastic. Then began cursing the Germans for a dumb design.

Anyways, upon cleaning the injectors, do you guys use Carb Cleaner?

i noticed a lot of sandy debris surrounding the rubber grommets.

[P0234]

You can buy a new o-ring and pintle cap from an injector service place, you could try injector rehab. I would try anything I could to get that cap out. First thing I would do would be to use a very thin vacuum extension and try to suck it out. You could rig something with lots of tape and a (car) vacuum line attached to your shop vac. Then stick it into the injector hole and see if you can suck it up.

[joeycuccaro]

You are going to misfire and have an abnormal idle if the pintle caps are not on there. Either grab some from JHM (best invention ever) or try to source some from a local store. I have two dozen spares at home for when i work on these cars.

[b0nzai213]

Anyone know where I can get pintle caps in the NYC area for today?

Regular parts shops don't carry such a specific part. I'll even buy from any members and pickup today also.

[joeycuccaro]

You can take a ride out to my house, i have a few spares. Not sure if you want to make the ride though

[b0nzai213]

Thanks to all. I replaced the injector just to be safe and now the engine fires like a raging stallion.

*TIP ON FRAGMENTS OF PINTLE CAP THAT MAY FALL IN*
-Jason from JHM says he would just turn on the car and let it burn out.
-I used a wooden stick with some Painter's Putty ($2 for can at home depot) at the end to get any loose fragments out, then started her up to burn out the rest.

NOTES: when plugging the injector connectors back in, be careful to line up the 2 prongs into the black housing perfectly. I bent a prong and it threw an engine code with rough idle. Luckily I just realigned it and it ran smoothly.