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GeronRoth

Black smoke and bumpy running: difficulties with the 2008 Ford Falcon

Unsteady engine

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Car won't start

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Engine shuts off by itself

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Poor fuel economy

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Longer cold start time

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Check engine light on

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Black smoke from exhaust on acceleration

Hi guys, I'm currently having real trouble with my 2008 Ford Falcon (gasoline engine, 114089 km run). I've recently had a few worries: black smoke comes out of the exhaust when accelerating, the check engine light comes on, the engine stops on its own, cold starting takes longer than usual, the engine runs rough, fuel consumption is far too high and sometimes the car won't start at all. I think the problem could be the cold start injector. Have any of you had similar experiences and can give me some good advice? I wasn't really satisfied with my last visit to the garage. I would appreciate your advice and experience! Thanks in advance!

(Translated from German)

4 comment(s)


HannaRacer

Hey, I also had a 2005 Ford Mondeo and a defective engine control unit was found with similar problems. Black smoke, increased fuel consumption, jerky engine - I know it all too well. What was particularly worrying was that the car sometimes simply stalled. That was really annoying and, among other things, dangerous to drive. I have to admit, it was definitely not easy to solve because it is a very complex problem and has a lot to do with electronics and software. But after the engine control unit was replaced and reprogrammed, everything worked perfectly again. Instead of checking the cold start valve, I would rather consider the engine control unit and have a professional look at it. Hope this helps you! Good luck!

(Translated from German)

GeronRoth (Author)

Hey, thanks for the tip, I didn't even have that on my screen! I'll have the engine control unit checked the next time I visit the garage. Can you remember roughly how much the repair cost you? And were there any other unexpected complications afterwards, or did everything run like clockwork? Thanks again and best regards!

(Translated from German)

HannaRacer

Moin, of course, I still remember the costs. The hassle with the engine control unit saved me around €1000 and then the thing ran like a charm again, I tell you. Furthermore, and I hope this boosts your confidence in the workshop visit, the cold start injection valve was indeed faulty, as you suspected. But it was repaired and everything has been fine ever since. No further breakdowns or complications, the car is running smoothly again. So don't worry too much, the trouble is temporary. Get the engine control unit fixed and you'll be on the safe side again. Good luck, good luck, good luck!

(Translated from German)

GeronRoth (Author)

Hi there, oh my goodness, €1000 is a hefty price. But when I think about how much trouble the whole thing has caused, it's probably best to just get it repaired. After all, I don't want to keep breaking down or having a bumpy ride. Good to know that the cold start injector could also be a problem. I'll keep all this in mind the next time I visit the garage and address all possible problems. Who knows, maybe I'll get lucky and it won't be as bad as I fear. Thanks again for the information and your support! It has really put my mind at ease. See you soon and best regards!

(Translated from German)

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