Black Smoke & Stalling Honda: Injector Issue or Not?

Hey there! I had very similar issues with my 2009 Honda Accord (gasoline V6). Last month, I faced identical symptoms, black smoke, rough starts, and stalling. My check engine light was flashing too. After diagnostic tests, it turned out my fuel injector was indeed defective. It was leaking fuel, causing wrong fuel-air mixture. The mechanic found carbon buildup inside, which was messing with the spray pattern. They had to replace the injector and clean the entire fuel system. It's actually a serious issue that shouldn't be ignored, faulty injectors can damage your catalytic converter and engine if left unfixed. In my case, I was lucky to catch it early before it caused more problems. Based on your symptoms, it really sounds like an injector issue. Get it properly diagnosed with a fuel pressure test to be sure. It's worth fixing right away to avoid bigger problems down the road. Good luck!

Hey, thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful since I'm dealing with the exact same symptoms. It's good to know I'm not the only one who's had this problem with their Honda. Just curious, do you remember roughly how much the repair cost you? And has everything been running smoothly since the fix, or have you noticed any other issues pop up? Thanks!

Hey again! Yes, I got the cold start injector replaced, and I can tell you it was totally worth every penny! Cost me 515€ for the whole job, including parts and labor. I know it's not cheap, but honestly, my Accord's running like a dream now. Since the fix (about 6 weeks ago), all those annoying issues have completely disappeared, no more black smoke, no stalling, and the car starts up perfectly every morning. Seriously, it's like driving a different car! The engine's running super smooth, and that worrying check engine light hasn't come back on. Just make sure you get it done sooner rather than later. I'm really glad I didn't wait around too long, could've ended up with way bigger problems (and a much bigger bill!). Let me know how it goes when you get yours fixed!

Thanks so much for all that info! Actually, I just got back from the mechanic today and thought I'd update you. You were spot on, it was definitely the injector causing all the trouble. Funny enough, my repair bill came in pretty close to what you paid. The mechanic showed me the old injector, and it was in rough shape! They also did a full fuel system cleaning while they were at it. Got to drive it home, and what a difference! No more black smoke, starts up right away, and the engine's purring like it should. Feels great to have my reliable Honda back. Thanks again for helping me figure this out, saved me from a lot more headaches down the road! Take care!