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LukasKrug

Infiniti Q Hybrid Nightmare: Black Smoke & Shutdowns

Engine shuts off by itself

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Strong exhaust smell

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Unsteady engine

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Jerking on acceleration

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Black smoke from exhaust on acceleration

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Poor fuel economy

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Check engine light on

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Loss of engine power

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Stalling while idling

Hi all, having serious trouble with my 2013 Infiniti Q Hybrid (229k km) and need some advice. My car's been acting up badly black smoke, stalling, jerking during acceleration, and unusual shutdowns. The engine light is on, and I'm getting terrible gas mileage with strong exhaust smells. I suspect it might be the low pressure fuel system sensor, but after a previous bad experience with a mechanic, I'm hesitant to go back. Has anyone dealt with similar symptoms? Any recommendations for reliable mechanics who know their way around Infiniti hybrids? Thanks in advance for any help!

4 comment(s)


LBeck92

I had very similar issues with my 2016 Infiniti Q50 Hybrid last summer. The symptoms you're describing match what I experienced especially the stalling and black smoke. Took it to my trusted mechanic and turned out it was indeed related to the fuel system, but the main culprit was actually damaged cable connections to the fuel pump assembly. The corrosion and loose connections were causing intermittent fuel delivery problems. The repair involved replacing several wiring harnesses and cleaning the connector pins. It was a pretty serious issue that could've led to complete system failure if left unchecked. These symptoms shouldn't be ignored since they affect both the electric and fuel systems in hybrid models. The fix totally resolved all those issues no more stalling, smoke, or weird smells. Performance went back to normal and fuel efficiency improved significantly. I'd definitely recommend getting it checked soon before it gets worse.

LukasKrug (Author)

Hey, thanks for sharing your experience! Really helpful since it sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with. I ended up getting mine fixed and it's running much better now. Quick question do you remember roughly how much the repair set you back? Also, has everything been running smoothly since then, or have you noticed any other issues pop up? Just want to know what to expect down the road.

LBeck92

Hey there! Yeah, happy to share my repair bill came to 95€ for fixing those faulty cable connections, which honestly wasn't as bad as I'd feared. Since getting it sorted out at the mechanic, my Q50's been running like a dream. That pesky low pressure fuel system sensor is working perfectly now, and I haven't had a single issue pop up since. It's such a relief not dealing with all those scary symptoms anymore no more black smoke, stalling, or any of that drama. My car's performance is back to what you'd expect from an Infiniti, and I'm getting great fuel economy again. Looking back, I'm just glad I got it fixed when I did before it turned into something more serious. Real talk these hybrids can be tricky beasts, but once you get the electrical connections sorted out, they're solid cars. I'm coming up on a year since the repair now, and everything's still running smoothly. Just keep up with regular maintenance, and you should be good to go!

LukasKrug (Author)

Thanks for the update! I'm jealous of your repair bill mine ended up being quite a bit more at around 450€. I guess I had some additional issues that needed sorting out. But honestly, it was worth every penny! So yeah, I finally bit the bullet and took it to this new mechanic my colleague recommended. They actually specialize in hybrid systems, which made a huge difference. Turns out there was a whole mess of problems corroded wiring, a failing fuel pump, and some sensor issues. They fixed everything up, and now my Q runs like it's brand new! No more black smoke, weird noises, or that awful jerking during acceleration. The engine light's finally off, and I'm getting way better gas mileage. Even that nasty exhaust smell is gone completely. Should've done this way sooner instead of being paranoid about mechanics after that one bad experience. Really appreciate everyone's advice here helped me make the right call. Time to enjoy my smooth-running car again!

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