Honda XRV: Multiple Engine Issues, Lambda Sensor Suspect?

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2020 Honda CR-V (and previously owned a HR-V). I've got some experience working on cars, mainly basic maintenance and troubleshooting. Those symptoms sound exactly like what I dealt with! My lambda sensor was clogged with ceramic deposits, causing all those same problems, the black smoke, rough running, and terrible fuel economy. Took it to my trusted mechanic, and the diagnostic confirmed my suspicions. The fix cost me 375 Euro, but it was worth every penny, car runs like new now! What's your current mileage, and have you noticed any other warning lights besides the check engine light? Also, when was your last service? These details would help me share more specific insights from my experience.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My XRV has 123145 KM on the clock and I just had a regular service last month. Everything seemed fine until these issues started popping up last week. Your description of the lambda sensor symptoms matches exactly what I'm experiencing. Good to know it was a straightforward fix for you, gives me hope! I'll definitely get it checked out by a mechanic, maybe it's the same issue. Really appreciate the detailed response. Did the fix immediately solve all the symptoms in your case?

Hey again! Yes, absolutely, in my case, replacing the lambda sensor fixed everything almost immediately. After the replacement, the first thing I noticed was how smoothly my CR-V ran, that jerky acceleration completely disappeared. The black smoke cleared up on my first drive, and within about two tank fills, my fuel economy was back to normal. Since you mentioned your XRV has similar mileage to what mine had when this happened (I was around 120K km), it's even more likely we're dealing with the same issue. Lambda sensors typically start showing their age around this mileage. Just a heads up based on my experience, make sure they check both sensors if your model has two (upstream and downstream). In my case, it was the upstream sensor that failed, but it's worth having both checked while they're at it. The diagnostic tool should point to which one's faulty. After the fix, I've been more mindful of using good quality fuel and keeping up with regular maintenance. Haven't had any similar issues since then. Keep us posted on what your mechanic finds, I'm pretty confident it'll be the same problem!

Thanks so much for all this detailed info! It's really reassuring to hear that replacing the lambda sensor solved all your problems immediately. I've just booked an appointment with my mechanic for tomorrow morning. I'll definitely ask them to check both sensors as you suggested, that's a really good tip I wouldn't have thought of. Having similar mileage to your case when it happened makes me even more convinced this is probably the culprit. Your advice about using good quality fuel is noted too. I'll make sure to be more careful with that once it's fixed. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience in such detail. I'll make a mental note to report back after the mechanic has checked it out. Thanks again, you've definitely helped put my mind at ease about this whole situation!