Faulty diesel injector

womble12345

I drive a 2011 Ford Mondeo 1.6L Diesel  which has done 83000 miles. It gave an 'Engine malfunction' light and starting running very rough and I needed to get it towed home. The car has a P1263 error code which is 'Cylinder #3 High to Low Side Short' so it seems the 3rd injector is faulty, I have got some quotes and seems it is £300 to replace the faulty one or about £1000 to replace all 4. My question is should I replace just the faulty one or replace them all? Once one goes do the others tend to follow shortly after? I plan to keep the car for a few more years and reliability and safety are very important to me. The car lost power when the issue occured and thankfully I could pull over safely but that may have been different had I been on a motorway so I am keen to make sure that doesnt happen again. Has anyone else had a similar dilemma in the past? What were your thoughts?
Thanks.

Flight3287462

How long are you planning on keeping the car?  If you intend to keep it for awhile then will probably be worth getting them all done, mechanic might baulk at the one nearest the windscreen.  Mechanics get a bit twitchy with injectors because they can break relatively easily and then they have a whole heap of pain.

womble12345

I expect I will keep it about another 2 years. What worries me is the car losing power on the motorway when I have the kids in the back and that is making me think that I ought to replace all 4.

MikeJXE

Have it check out with a diesel specialist not an ordinary garage 

diystarter7

womble12345 said:

I expect I will keep it about another 2 years. What worries me is the car losing power on the motorway when I have the kids in the back and that is making me think that I ought to replace all 4.

Hi

If you know its dangerous to drive judging by your comments re motorway, get it sorted ASAP

Try a diesel injector specialist - they often just do injectors and know whats what and could be cheaper

Good luck

womble12345

Please dont get me wrong I am definitely getting it sorted and wont be driving it again until its sorted but replacing 1 injector would get it going again but my fear is that after 1 injector went then the others may also be approaching end of life too. I have booked the car in with a diesel specialist (they only deal with diesels and have 'diesel' in the garage name and he says he only deals with the diesel bit of the engine, not anything else) but I am just trying to make a decision about what to do should the diesel specialist say 'its up to you' about deciding if to replace 1 injector or all 4.

MikeJXE

Then if it's going to worry you do all 4. Simples 

Bigwheels1111

I’ve done a million miles driving diesels, never had an injector fail yet.
All my cars except one had done over 100k when I got them.
I would look for a specialist in your area and get all four done and a new fuel filter.
I was doing 6000 miles in 4 or 5 weeks, so changed, oil & filter, air filter, fuel filter & fuel cleaner every time.
Did another 100-150k more then just gave the car away to family or friends.

womble12345

Thanks. It just had a new fuel filter when it was serviced in December but I am thinking I will get all 4 changed, thanks for all the opinions.

daveyjp

Never assume a fault code means that part is faulty, especially with diesels.

A friend once spent a fortune at a diesel specialist chasing a fault code, he had new injectors etc.  The fix was £25 paid to an autoelectrician to replace a frayed wire.

greyteam1959

A second opinion would be the best thing to do.