Cold Start Woes: Compass Injector Troubleshooting Guide

I had a similar fuel system issue with my 2014 Jeep Patriot. As someone with some experience working on cars, I recognized those cold start problems right away. The symptoms matched exactly what you describe, hard starting and rough idle during cold starts, plus engine misfire issues that would clear up after the engine warmed up. After trying fuel system cleaner without success, I took it to a workshop where they ran a proper diagnostic. The problem turned out to be a defective fuel injector. The workshop performed injector testing which showed one injector was not atomizing fuel properly during cold conditions. They recommended a complete replacement rather than just cleaning, as cleaning often only provides temporary relief for failing injectors. Total repair cost was 515 Euro including parts, labor and diagnostic testing. Since the replacement, the cold start problems completely disappeared and the engine runs smoothly from startup. Before suggesting specific fixes for your case, could you share: Current mileage on your Compass, Check engine light status, Any diagnostic codes pulled, Type of fuel you typically use, When you last changed the fuel filter This information would help determine if your issue is similar to what I experienced with the faulty injector.

Thanks for sharing your experience. My Compass has 96248 KM and had its last major service just 2 months ago. After reading about your injector replacement fixing similar symptoms, I should probably have my fuel injection system properly tested. The hard starting and engine misfire issues have gradually gotten worse despite using premium fuel, so a failing injector seems likely. Would you recommend going straight for diagnostic testing, or trying a fuel system cleaner first as a cheaper option?

Having gone through this with my Patriot, I would recommend going straight for proper diagnostic testing of the fuel delivery system rather than trying fuel system cleaners first. While injector cleaning products can help with minor carbon deposits, they rarely fix a truly faulty injector. In my case, I wasted time and money trying cleaners before getting the proper diagnosis. The fuel injection diagnostic test will quickly show if you have a failing injector like I did. The mileage on your Compass is close to where I started having issues (around 90000 KM). The fact that the problems persist even with premium fuel and recent servicing points strongly toward a mechanical fuel system issue rather than just carbon buildup. The rough idle and cold start problems will likely continue getting worse until the root cause is addressed. From my experience, investing in proper testing now could save money in the long run by preventing additional wear on other engine components. The diagnostic testing typically costs around 100 Euro, which is worth it to pinpoint the exact issue in the fuel delivery system and avoid replacing parts unnecessarily.

Thanks everyone for the input. After considering the advice, I will schedule a professional diagnostic test this week rather than experimenting with fuel system cleaners. The similarities between my symptoms and the fuel rail issues described are too close to ignore, especially given my mileage is in the same range where these problems typically develop. The rough idle and hard starting are getting more noticeable, so addressing the potential injector problem sooner rather than later makes sense. Will update once I get the fuel injection system tested and find out if I need a replacement like others have mentioned. Better to fix it properly now than risk more engine misfires and potential damage.