Erratic running and black smoke in the 2013 Skoda Octavia petrol engine: suspected lambda sensor heater fault

Hey, I had similar symptoms with my Skoda Superb from 2010, 115000 km run. It was really no fun, black smoke also came out when accelerating and the engine ran totally irregularly. But in my case it was the engine control unit that was faulty. It's serious because the engine control unit is responsible for the proper functioning of many systems in your car, including the fuel injection and ignition system. It helps the engine run optimally based on real-time inputs from sensors throughout the vehicle. If it's not working properly, it can lead to many problems, including the engine running erratically, increased fuel consumption and reduced drivability, just as you described. You could be right about the lambda sensor heater, that could also cause a problem, but in my case it was the engine control unit, so it could be the same for you. The best thing to do is to go to a garage and have it checked. I wish you the best of luck, hopefully you'll get it sorted quickly!

(Translated from German)

Hey, thanks for your feedback! Yep, sounds even more serious than I thought. Can you remember what you paid for the repair of the engine control unit? And did you have any other problems afterwards or was everything back to normal?

(Translated from German)

Hey, no problem, I'm glad if I can help! So, the repair to the engine control unit saved me around €1000. Quite a bang for the buck, but afterwards the car ran like a charm again. And yes, the lambda sensor heater was actually faulty in my car too. I had it fixed in the workshop at the same time and since then everything has been running smoothly and the black smoke when accelerating is also a thing of the past! So I'm quite happy since my visit to the mechanic. Hey, I'll keep my fingers crossed that you don't have too many defective parts and that the repair costs are kept within limits. Let us know how it goes!

(Translated from German)

Thanks for the detailed information! Phew, the prices are not without, but what must be done, right? And yes, I just want my car to run smoothly again. Hopefully everything will be fine with the first repair and I won't have to go to the mechanic more often. Hey, thanks for keeping my fingers crossed and I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything new. See you then and take good care of yourself, yeah?

(Translated from German)