01 Windstar How to remove injectors/harness?

[jaskho]

I'm an amateur trying to change intake manifold gaskets, and all's been going ok (with much help from this forum) but now I'm almost down to the lower manifold and I'm not sure what to do about the fuel injector harness (or whatever it is -- the tubing that takes fuel to the injectors).

My injectors appear to be connected to the "harness" by little metal clips. I'm thinking it might be possible to bend those back and just pull the "harness" off, leaving the injectors in place. Or, do I need to pull the injectors out? If so, I'm not seeing any obvious clues as to how that happens - do they just pull out?

Thanks in advance...

[edit]
correction: not "harness" but "rail"

[jaskho]

In case anyone else gets stymied by this...
I found a manual that directs, with accompanying diagram, to remove the "fuel rail" and injectors as an assembly.
I'm gonna go with that.

[mark_gober]

Originally Posted by jaskho

In case anyone else gets stymied by this...
I found a manual that directs, with accompanying diagram, to remove the "fuel rail" and injectors as an assembly.
I'm gonna go with that.

Jaskho,

Sorry to be getting back to you so late on this...but, yes, you can just pull the fuel rail out as an assy. (complete with attached injectors. The rail is held in place by a few bolts and then it's just gravity. If you remove the fuel rail, I'd replace the o-rings. I went a step further when I did mine and took a shot glass and filled it with B-12 chemtool. I soaked the injector ends in B-12 for about 5 minutes each to ensure that the tiny holes got cleaned. Don't submerge the entire injector, just the spraying end. (hence the shot glass, it won't fit all the way in.)

Mark

[jaskho]

Thanks Mark. I did get them out, though I'd add one small detail - after removing the bolts, it's just gravity plus friction I had to wiggle and jiggle and pull hard enough that some of the injectors tried to pull out of the little metal clasps that connect them to the rail.

At the rate I'm going I'll have that beast back on the road by Christmas... 2011...

[12Ounce]

I discarded those clips that hold the injectors to the fuel rail ... get along fine without them. Not suggesting ... its just what I did.

Added to what is already suggested ... I always blast the inlet end of injectors with an aerosol cleaner ... I like brake cleaner. This removes whatever might have passed the fuel filters over time ... and there will be crud in there. I reuse the O-rings pretty much all the time: just daub on some petroleum jelly or grease.

[tomj76]

I use my upholstery pry bar (a forked tool for pulling out those barbed plastic "nails" used to hold interior parts to the sheet metal), a little light lubricant, and some coaxing to pry out the injectors. I usually take the out of the fuel rail too, just for easier handling. The O-rings are relatively cheap.

[Fairlane Lover]

Y'all,
Is it necessary to remove the upper intake in order to remove the fuel rail? I want to check & clean my injectors but stopped before starting the job because it seems like so.