Black Smoke & Power Loss: Adam's Lambda Sensor Crisis

Hey! I had very similar issues with my 2016 Vauxhall Corsa last year. Same symptoms, black smoke, power loss, rough running, and terrible fuel economy. Turned out you're right about the lambda sensor. Had mine checked at the garage and they found the ceramic element inside was clogged with carbon deposits. In my case, the mechanic said it was quite a serious issue because the faulty sensor was causing the engine to run too rich (too much fuel), which explained the black smoke and fuel consumption. If left unchecked, it could've damaged the catalytic converter, which would've been much worse. The fix wasn't too complex, they cleaned the sensor and checked the surrounding components. They also did a diagnostic scan to clear the fault codes. Car's been running perfectly since then, no more smoke, smooth power delivery, and back to normal fuel consumption. I'd definitely get it checked soon though, as running with a faulty lambda sensor can cause more problems down the line. Hope this helps, Mike

Hey Mike! Thanks for sharing your experience, it's really helpful to hear from someone who's been through the same thing. Just got my Adam back from the shop yesterday and they sorted the lambda sensor, exactly like in your case. Quick question, do you remember roughly how much you paid for the fix? Also, any other issues pop up since then? Just want to make sure I'm not missing anything that might need attention. Cheers

Hey! Glad to hear you got your Adam sorted! Yeah, I remember exactly what I paid, it was 375€ to fix the ceramic element in the lambda sensor that was all clogged up. Honestly, considering the headache it was causing, it was worth every penny! Since getting it fixed, my Corsa's been running like a dream, no more issues at all. The black smoke disappeared completely, fuel economy went back to normal, and the engine's super smooth now. It's been over a year, and I haven't had a single problem related to that sensor. Just keep an eye on your fuel consumption over the next few weeks, that's the best way to know if everything's working properly. If you notice it staying steady and normal, you're good to go. But honestly, once they fix the lambda sensor properly, it usually sorts everything out. Let me know how your Adam runs in the next few weeks! Cheers, Mike

Hey Mike, Thanks a lot for all the info! Just thought I'd give you a quick update after a couple of weeks. The fix cost me about 390€, pretty close to what you paid. The mechanic did a thorough job and even gave the surrounding components a good check. You were spot on about the fuel consumption, it's back to normal now! No more black smoke, and the engine's running smooth as butter. Such a relief not having to worry about that jerking motion anymore. The check engine light's stayed off too, which is great. Funny story actually, when I went to pick up the car, the mechanic showed me the old sensor. It was completely black with carbon deposits! No wonder the poor car was struggling. He said I caught it just in time before it could cause any damage to the catalytic converter. Really appreciate your help with this. It's always good to get advice from someone who's been through the same thing. Cheers