Fiat Punto's Engine Troubles: Black Smoke, Check Engine Light, and Cold Start Difficulties

Hey! Sounds like a right old hassle you're dealing with. I had a similar issue with my '09 Fiat Bravo. That black smoke and wonky engine you explain, I can relate. Turned out to be a defective fuel injector in my case. Here's how it went down. I realised something was up when I noticed my engine parts getting seriously worn out quicker than usual, and the acceleration felt really sluggish. So I popped by my local garage, and the mechanic quickly identified the problem. Apparently, a clogged or defective injector can deprive your engine of fuel, hence those cold start issues. Also, your fuel economy is gonna take a hit, engine might stall, just an overall mess - pretty much what you explained. They had to remove the fuel rail and replace the faulty injector. Quite a serious issue, not something you should overlook. And yep, my Fiat ran smoothly right after that. So yeah, would be worth getting that injector checked out. Mechanics these days tend to have diagnostic tools that should pin down the problem. Good luck with it! You've been through 184k km, here's to many more!

Hey there! Sounds like a rather nasty situation, doesn't it? Your symptoms seem to match the faulty injector issue as described by the previous. Do you remember how much your mechanic charged you for the injector replacement, bud? And has anything else cropped up since you got it fixed? Just trying to have an idea what I'm looking at here. Thanks in advance!

Hey! I gotcha. The cold start injector was indeed the culprit, just like you suspected. Getting that pesky injector fixed ran me about 515€ - not exactly pocket change, but considering it solved my issues, I reckon it was well worth it. Ever since the trip to the mechanic, I'm pleased to report my old Fiat Bravo has given me no more nightmares. So, touch wood, it seems we've bid adieu to those black smoke and wonky engine dilemmas. So, all's well that ends well, huh? I say bite the bullet and get that injector checked out. Good luck with your Fiat Punto!

Cheers for the info, guys! I appreciate the advice and it does seem like the injector might be the culprit. But that €515 is a hefty sum, gonna have to do some budget-adjustment. Fingers crossed, my Punto doesn't throw any more curveballs after that. I'm sure gonna miss those nicely spooky black clouds though. Thanks again and wish me luck fellows!