Black Smoke & Power Loss: Astra Engine Crisis

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2003 Vauxhall Corsa last year. Those symptoms sound very familiar. Initially thought it was the fuel pump too, but turned out to be a faulty wiring harness/plug that was causing all sorts of electrical issues with the fuel system. Took it to my regular workshop, Frank's Auto, and they found that the wiring connection was corroded and partially melted. Got it replaced for about 95 Euro and it's been running perfectly since then. Quick fix, really. What's your engine size and mileage? Would help to know if we're dealing with the same setup. Also, have you scanned for error codes? That would give us a better idea of what's going on.

Thanks for the input! My Astra's at 142947 KM and had its last service about 3 months ago. Your wiring harness issue is interesting, definitely something I'll get checked. The symptoms do sound pretty similar to what I'm experiencing. Did your car also have that strong fuel smell before you got it fixed?

Hey again! Yes, my Corsa definitely had that strong fuel smell, it was actually one of the things that made me think it was a fuel pump issue at first. Mine was pretty bad, especially when I was idling in traffic. Looking back now, that smell was probably because the bad wiring was causing irregular fuel delivery, making the engine run really rich. Just to add to my previous reply, I remembered another detail that might help you. Before I got the wiring harness fixed, my car would jerk really badly when accelerating, especially from a stop. It was like the fuel wasn't getting to the engine properly. The black smoke in your case definitely sounds similar, it's usually a sign of too much fuel getting dumped into the engine. My Corsa was at about 135,000 KM when this happened, so pretty close to your mileage. Since you mentioned yours was serviced recently, maybe ask the mechanic if they noticed anything off with the wiring during the service? Sometimes these issues can start small and get worse over time. Let me know what you find out, would be interesting to see if it's the same problem. Frank's Auto actually showed me the old wiring harness after they replaced it, and it was pretty shocking how corroded it was!

Thanks so much for all the details! Yeah, my car's doing exactly what you described, that jerking during acceleration is spot on, and the fuel smell is definitely worst when I'm stuck in traffic. I've just called my mechanic and managed to get an appointment for tomorrow morning. I'm going to specifically ask them to check the wiring harness based on your experience. It's actually a relief to hear that your fix was relatively straightforward and not too expensive. I was worried I'd be looking at a major repair bill! I'll definitely get back to you once they've had a look at it. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, it's given me a much better idea of what to look out for. Fingers crossed it's the same issue and can be sorted quickly!