Black Smoke & Shaking Honda XRV: Bad Coils or Worse?

Hey there! I had almost identical issues with my 2019 Honda CR-V last month. The symptoms you're describing match exactly what I experienced, black smoke, misfiring, rough idle, and starting problems. Took it to my mechanic and turns out the cable connection to one of the ignition coils was completely worn out and damaged. The constant vibration had caused it to loosen over time, creating a poor connection. This was causing unusual misfires and all those symptoms you mentioned. Not a super serious issue, but definitely needs immediate attention as it can damage your catalytic converter if left unfixed. The fix involved replacing the damaged cable and securing all ignition coil connections properly. Car's been running smooth since then. Based on your symptoms, I'd strongly suggest getting those ignition coil connections checked. Avoid driving the car too much until it's fixed to prevent any potential damage to other components. Best of luck!

Hey, thanks so much for sharing your experience! Glad to hear you got it sorted out. That's really helpful info about the ignition coil connections, it definitely sounds similar to what I'm dealing with. Quick question though, do you remember roughly how much the repair ended up costing you? Also, has everything been running smoothly since the fix, or have you noticed any other issues pop up? Just want to get an idea of what I might be looking at cost-wise and if I should watch out for anything else. Thanks again!

Hey again! Happy to help! Yeah, I actually just had this fixed recently, it set me back 365€ for the whole repair job. They replaced the faulty cable connection to the ignition coil, and I've got to say, it was totally worth every penny. My CR-V's running like a dream now, no more shaking, no more black smoke, and that annoying check engine light finally stopped haunting me! It's been about three weeks since the fix, and honestly, it feels like I'm driving a different car. The engine's super smooth, starts right up every time, and there's none of that jerky behavior anymore. I was actually pretty relieved because I was worried it might be something way more serious (and expensive!). The mechanic mentioned it was a good thing I brought it in when I did, apparently, these issues can get worse if you keep driving with them. Haven't noticed any other problems since the repair, so fingers crossed it stays that way! Hope this helps give you a better idea of what you're looking at. Let me know how it goes with yours!

Thanks for all that detail, really appreciate you breaking down the costs and sharing your experience! I actually took my car to a mechanic yesterday after reading your messages. You were spot on! They found the same issue with the ignition coil connection, plus a bit of wear on the coil itself. Got it all fixed up and wow, what a difference! No more black smoke or shaking, and it starts perfectly now. Ended up paying about the same as you did. The mechanic was super thorough and even showed me what was wrong with the old parts. Funny thing is, I was stressing about this being some massive engine problem that would cost thousands to fix. Such a relief it turned out to be something relatively simple! The car's running beautifully now, feels just like when I first got it. Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction. Really saved me from a lot more headache and probably some bigger repairs down the line. You're a lifesaver!