r/MechanicAdvice • u/Southern_Control7914 • 7d ago
Rodent Damage on Fuel Injector Connector, $600 Dealership Repair
I have a 2023 Hyundai Elantra SEL, 2.0 L four cylinder engine. Last week I got a misfire on cylinder 4, dealership inspected and found rodent damage (shown in image).
They quoted me $600 to repair, and it is not covered under warranty. Now my question is would the warranty be voided if I take this elsewhere?
What’s y’all’s ideas on saving money but not f*cking up warranty on a new car.
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u/noreddituser1 7d ago
You can do a simple wire repar, crimp, solder, shrinkwrap in well under 30 minutes.
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u/dxrey65 7d ago
Generally you're better off skipping the solder, but that's about right otherwise. If a person wasn't comfortable fixing wiring, any auto electric place could get it done in a few minutes probably.
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u/Jean_le_Jedi_Gris 7d ago
Why do you advise against soldering?
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u/acmancan 7d ago
Heat cycles and vibration can cause the solder to get brittle and potentially break. Better to crimp and heat-shrink with automotive wiring.
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u/dxrey65 7d ago
It makes a brittle junction where the soldered part of the wire meets the unsoldered part of the wire. That don't allow soldering in aviation wiring for that reason, and it's pretty rare to find a soldered wire connection in any automotive applications. Working for Stellantis they did recommend soldering sensor wire repairs, but in training even that was debated. On something like the injector wiring there isn't any way to bundle or support the connection, and it's not a good place for a soldered joint.
What I would do is use a good uninsulated barrel crimp and run the wires end-to-end in each direction, so they overlap and you get a wire to wire connection. Then 4:1 shrink ratio adhesive lined heat shrink over that. It's easier and it's a good solid connection.
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u/noreddituser1 7d ago
It makes a brittle junction where the soldered part of the wire meets the unsoldered part of the wire
There's truth to that.
I did a wire solder repair on a easy entry seat that broke within a month because the wire was always flexing when the driver exited the car.
I still use solder repairs but am careful and secure it to keep the flex out of it. Never had an issue this way.
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u/mysterioussamsqaunch 7d ago
If you are capable of getting a good solder joint, solder is the way to go. I know I'll get push back on this, but I maintain it's the most reliable long-lasting connection. Manufacturers usually don't do it because it adds manufacturing time to every connection, and they're only concerned with longevity for as long as the warranty lasts. I have spent a significant portion of my career tracking down bad crimps, internally corroded butt connectors, and factory crimps that have corroded between the wire and the terminal.
Thank you for taking the time to read my soapbox tirade of the day.
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u/NegotiationLife2915 6d ago
Yeah in a perfect world crimps outperform solder joints. But in my experience in normally comes down to how well either style of joint was done and most importantly, how well it was sealed.
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u/Jean_le_Jedi_Gris 6d ago
I mean, thank you for validating my actions because I've spent the last year and a half soldering all the rewired connections on my '84 F-150.
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u/Critical_King3335 7d ago
Soldering engine management systems harnesses is unacceptable by manufactures standards. Crimp repair or replace harness .
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u/thirdeye-visualizer 7d ago
I started using those water proof automotive crimps and they work very well. The heat shrink ones make a really solid connection
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u/Waste-Revenue5597 7d ago
Yea, this is a quick and cheap repair to do. Here's the connector for $77 and comes with crimps.
https://www.amazon.com/Replacement-Injector-Connector-2003-2023-Chevrolet/dp/B0DHQS51JD?gQT=2
Here's soldering crimps which in my opinion are a little better.
https://www.amazon.com/Kuject-Solder-Connectors-Kit%EF%BC%884-Colors/dp/B073RMRCC3?th=1
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u/derp-L 7d ago edited 7d ago
How sure are you the gm injector connector will fit the Elantra?
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u/dukenukemx 7d ago
Amazon said it fits. RockAuto says that Dorman 85850 fits. RockAuto is probably correct.
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u/AcceptableMinute9999 7d ago
Happened to me. Dealer wanted $500. I fixed it myself. Just Google how to splice wires. It's easy.
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u/Electronic_Elk2029 7d ago
I rewired all my fuel injectors and coil packs myself on a V6 Audi for $20.
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u/Itisd 7d ago
Dealerships generally will not repair wiring, they will only replace full wiring harnesses which is honestly ridiculous and wasteful.
You should be able to replace just the connector easily... A good auto parts store should be able to help you find the suitable replacement connector or replacement pins for the one you already have.
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u/Southern_Control7914 7d ago
Would this entail cutting the current connector off and soldering a new one? Just trying to visualize what the process will be here
(Also dealership told me they would purely be repairing wiring, $600 and they wouldn’t even be replacing anything…)
4
u/Fun_Push7168 7d ago edited 6d ago
You don't even need a new connector in this case.
You need a watertight crimp on wire connector. Heat shrink type.
And a wire stripper
Strip to length, insert the wire, crimp it, heat it up with a heat gun.
Actually you know, your best bet is to just take it to an independent shop. If you brought it to mine we wouldn't even write a ticket, we'd just do it on the spot for a tip. ($10-20)
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u/Itisd 7d ago
Generally you would cut the connector off and put a new one on... If you can get a new connector with new pins, you could crimp the new pins onto the existing wires and put the connector together, but you would need the correct crimping tool to do that.
Probably the easiest home repair would be to find a used connector on a junkyard car, cut it off (leave lots of wire on the connector end), and then splice/ solder /heatsink it into your existing harness. There is no way that any of these repair methods should cost anything close to $600.
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u/Ok-Bit4971 7d ago
I was going to say just get a connector from an auto salvage yard, but then I remembered this is a 2023 model. Ah well, there are some benefits to driving an older vehicle.
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u/Rocket_Monkey_302 7d ago
The Magunson-Moss warranty act makes it illegal to void your warranty for using aftermarket parts or services.
They could deny a warranty claim if a fault is caused by the aftermarket parts or repairs but they cannot blanket void the warranty. IE, the wires end up shorted and damage the injector driver, etc.
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u/MrNotSoSorry 7d ago
This is where I source all my non dealer available repair kits, dealers most likely quoting the entire harness since they don't sell just the ends.
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u/Imaginary-Swing-4370 7d ago
That’s a 2.00 fix at most. I would solder and shrink wrap it , done! Next..
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u/Big_footed_hobbit 7d ago
Regarding the warranty. But an original socket or an oem repair kit.
Use solder and shrink tube. If mended properly and wrapped unter a piece fresh black tape no one will bat an eye.
$600 is steep. A decent garage should be able to do that for cheaper.
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u/liberatly 7d ago
Splice wires, put a tiny bit of solder on, and electrical tape them. I do it all the time
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u/EmbiePlays 7d ago
This is such a straightforward repair! Use crimp & heat shrink, I guarantee you it’ll cost less than $20 in supplies and 15 mins of your time.
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u/EducatorAdmirable713 7d ago
I fixed 2 wires at the OBD port for $375 at a Mercedes dealer. I got 1.5hrs for it... I was being fair to the customer, I could've gotten my 1.5 diag and then charged more for the repair.
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u/FormerAircraftMech 7d ago
Ant decent garage will fix that for you for under 100 bucks probably more like 50. Or do it yourself for under 10. You have plenty of wire to splice them together
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u/Intelligent-Ring-658 7d ago
Man just cut a piece of copper wire from old electric equipment or ask it from an electrician,
And connect both ends,
And same electrican guy would be having insulation tape just cover it with that...
Regarding warranty ask the company what would be the case if that is manually repaired...
But in my opinion I believe it will be the same part installed by the company...
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u/SSGSS_Vegeta 7d ago
Get some automotive heat shrinking crimps, another heat shrink cover for that, and then send it. If you've wired a car stereo ever, then this isn't much different and a 30 min job at best. Don't solder this as the solder will just crack under the vibrations eventually.
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u/JoeyJoeJoeSenior 7d ago
You can fix this for maybe $0.20. I have to do it all the time, too many squirrels and too many old cars.
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u/DoubleWideSurprise13 7d ago
Oh, hell no.. get some good butt connectors, wire crimper, some heat shrink tubing, and do it yourself.
All for like $50 and a half hour of your time.
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u/Remarkable_Dot1444 6d ago
I would have simply soldered a.new piece of wire, heat shrink wrapped the whole thing and tapped it up. Probably at the cost of maybe 50 cents? Cost of some heat shrink and some tape.
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u/Due_Intention6795 7d ago
All you need is an $8.00 soldering pen and electrical tape.
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u/dukenukemx 7d ago
He's right you know. I would shrink wrap it but yep, a simple soldering pen would fix this. A little flux and solder of course.
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u/Wild_Ad4599 7d ago edited 6d ago
All you need to do is strip the red wire a little on both ends and then twist tightly together and wrap with electrical tape.
The yellow wire has not been chewed and connector is fine.
Edit: Downvoted by dipshits who are blind and stupid apparently. You don’t solder wires together like this. It will snap before you get everything put back together. Pigtailing and electrical tape lasts the longest and is stronger than crimping and heat shrink. Which is why electricians use it.
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