Freelander 2 fuel injector issues

Hi there I'm new to this site and I'm looking for some advice. I had a strong smell of diesel inside my car coming through the fans. I removed the engine cover and I noticed a puddle of diesel around the 2 middle fuel injectors, so I took it into a local garage and he told me that it's most likely the leak off pipe that need replacing. So I've brought it and put it on and the leak is still there but I cant see where it's coming from. Anyway my question is that my Haynes manual says that if I put in a new fuel injector I need to have the serial number so I can program it to the ECU? Is this correct? as I dont mind changing it but wont be able to if the ECU needs programming.

Danny11111 said:

I noticed a puddle of diesel around the 2 middle fuel injectors, so I took it into a local garage and he told me that it's most likely the leak off pipe that need replacing.

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It's normally obvious if it's the leak off pipes. How was the little O ring on the leak off tapping on the injector?

Danny11111 said:

So I've brought it and put it on and the leak is still there but I cant see where it's coming from.

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The leak off on the FL2 is a high pressure leak back system, which runs at 10 Bar or 145 PSI. This high pressure is needed for the injectors to function, as there is no mechanical connection inside, just a column of high pressure fuel from the leak back system. Sometimes the leak back pressure control valve (silver part in the leak back pipe) can fail, causing over pressure or under pressure, but it's not common, and would seldom leak from just 2 injectors.

Danny11111 said:

Anyway my question is that my Haynes manual says that if I put in a new fuel injector I need to have the serial number so I can program it to the ECU? Is this correct? as I dont mind changing it but wont be able to if the ECU needs programming.

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The injectors need to be coded to the EDC, or more accurately the EDC needs to be programmed with the injector codes, so it knows the injector's characteristics.
This is important for proper injector function, fuel economy and emissions reasons.

However the chance of the injectors causing the leak is tiny. Looking at the picture, it looks like the injector is black with sludge, which is a classic symptom of copper washer seal failure. The copper washers seal the bottom of the injector to the head, and only a tiny leak will allow fuel from the injector to be forced out of the seal under compression, causing the issue you have.

Thanks Nodge68 for your wealth of information The little o ring was quite loose on there, but cant see anything dripping from there with the engine running, I had another little look again today and I cant see where the diesel is coming from I can only think that it's coming up from the injector. So that puts it into what you have said about the washer at the bottom on the injector is blown, I ordered more o rings and washers last night just incase. Any tips or tricks to get the injectors out as I hear they can be a pig to remove

Danny11111 said:

Any tips or tricks to get the injectors out as I hear they can be a pig to remove

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They can be very difficult to remove, unfortunately.

Heat the engine to running temperature before starting, and apply a release agent a few times in the days leading up to removal.

Don't lever the injectors, and don't impact them, as they are apparently very easy to damage, sometimes just releasing the clamp is enough to damage them.
There is a flat on the threaded union, where a spanner can apply some gentle rotation, which should help break the injector free. Then it's just a case of wiggling it out of the head.
I managed to take all mine out without an issue, and put them back again without harm, so it's possible to do. To be fair, mine had only been fitted for a couple of hundred miles, before I needed to repair the engine damage, but the injectors did survive the ordeal.

Ok brilliant thanks hopefully the new parts will be here soon so I can get this sorted

Danny11111 said:

Ok brilliant thanks hopefully the new parts will be here soon so I can get this sorted

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Do you have the manual for the removal and refitting procedure?

The injector pipes are also supposed to be replaced, if the union nuts are loosened, but I don't know how many people actually do that. Mine had 4 replacement injectors before I bought it, but my pipes are the original, and I've had the injectors out twice myself. There must be a reason they're supposed to be replaced though.

I've got a Haynes manual so was just gonna use that, I've tried to find various stuff on youtube etc but not much luck. The haynes manual is fairly detailed, 1 thing it doesnt go into detail about is the numbering. I wasnt gonna change the pipes I just assumed they would be ok

My pipes are ok. Just make sure you put the injectors back in the same cylinder, or it'll smoke.

Yea will do, thanks for all your input really appreciated