Black Smoke & Power Loss: CrosslandX Exhaust Crisis

Hey there, I had similar issues with my 2019 Vauxhall Grandland X last spring. The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I experienced, black smoke, drop in power, and that distinctive exhaust smell. Turned out one of my lambda sensors had failed completely. Took it to my local Vauxhall specialist, and they diagnosed it pretty quickly. The faulty sensor was causing the engine to run rich (too much fuel), hence the black smoke and poor performance. Got it replaced along with a thorough diagnostic check of the entire exhaust system. While it wasn't the most serious issue I've faced, it definitely needed immediate attention to prevent any potential damage to the catalytic converter. The repair was straightforward, and the car's been running perfectly since then, no more smoke, full power restored, and the check engine light cleared up. Would definitely recommend getting it checked soon, as running with a faulty lambda sensor can lead to bigger problems down the line. Hope this helps!

Thanks for sharing that! Really helpful to know about the lambda sensor, sounds like it could be exactly what's going on with mine too. Just wondering, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the fix? And has everything stayed sorted since then, or have you had any other niggles pop up?

Hey again! Yeah, happy to help! I just got back from my mechanic last week actually, it was indeed the lambda sensor that needed replacing, just like I suspected when I first replied to you. The total bill came to 375€, which included the diagnostic work and the new sensor. While it wasn't exactly cheap, it was worth every penny because the car's running like a dream now. The exhaust aftertreatment malfunction warning is completely gone, and I haven't had a single issue since the repair. No more black smoke, the engine's got its power back, and that nasty smell has disappeared too. It's amazing what replacing one small sensor can do! Just a heads up though, make sure you get it sorted sooner rather than later. Running with a dodgy lambda sensor can mess up your catalytic converter, and that's definitely not a bill you want to be dealing with! Let me know how you get on with yours. I reckon you'll be looking at similar costs, but at least it's a straightforward fix.

Thanks so much for all the details! I actually just got back from the mechanic myself, and boy, what a journey it's been. You were spot on about getting it checked quickly. I found this great mechanic through a 's recommendation, really knew his stuff. Turns out it wasn't just the lambda sensor in my case. Had a cracked exhaust manifold too, which explained that nasty smell I was getting. Ended up paying about 650€ total, more than I hoped for, but the difference is like night and day. No more black smoke, power's back to normal, and that horrible smell is finally gone. The mechanic was really thorough, explained everything, and even showed me the damaged parts. Much better experience than my last mechanic! Car's running smooth as butter now. Really glad I asked here, your advice helped me understand what I was dealing with and pushed me to get it sorted properly. Really appreciate everyone's help on this one. Case closed!