KleinChrissi

Problems with Opel Combo 2015: Black smoke, loss of power and suspected ignition coil

Hi guys, I have a strange problem with my 2015 Opel Combo with gasoline engine. The car is behaving differently than usual - black smoke when accelerating, engine light is on, noticeable loss of power, jerks and shakes when accelerating and idling, sometimes won't start at all and also has bad fuel consumption. It also dies every now and then when idling. I suspect it could be the ignition coil, but I'm by no means sure. Do any of you have experience with such problems and can give me some troubleshooting tips? Would be grateful to hear how you solved this at the workshop and what experiences you have had. Thanks in advance!

(Translated from German)

4 comment(s)

Hey, sure, I know the problem. I had the same story with my 2013 Opel Vivaro. As I only have a little experience with cars, I couldn't really classify the problem at first. So off to the garage it went. After a thorough examination, the mechanics discovered that the engine control unit was faulty. It cost me 1000.0 euros to repair it. Once the fault had been rectified, the car drove as normal again. I would need more information about your car to be able to help you more precisely. Does your Combo have anything special, e.g. mileage, whether you only drive in town, on country roads or on the highway, etc.? See you soon!

(Translated from German)

Hey, thanks for the quick reply! Your experience has definitely shed some light on things. Well, my Combo has already seen quite a lot. The mileage is now 184733 km - that's quite a few city trips, country roads, but also highways. Sometimes I also drive longer distances in one go. The last service was a few months ago and nothing special was found, but maybe they need to take another closer look. I hope this information helps you a bit. Thanks again for your help!

(Translated from German)

Moin Moin, so with the high mileage and mixed driving style, this can lead to the components being subjected to greater stress. There may actually be a problem with the ignition coil or spark plugs, but I think it would also make sense to check the engine control unit, fuel system and catalytic converter. The symptoms could also indicate incomplete combustion - could be a defective injection system or a problem with the injectors. Black smoke indicates an oversupply of fuel or insufficient combustion. But that's just a guess, of course, and the best thing to do in any case would be a detailed diagnosis in a good workshop. A software update of the engine control unit may also help if a manufacturer problem is known. Has your Combo ever had similar problems? And what about starting? Does it start better cold or is there no difference? In any case, I would tackle this soon to prevent permanent damage to the engine. Good luck and keep us up to date. Stay healthy! Bye!

(Translated from German)

Hey, thanks for the detailed information and options - definitely helps me! I used to have problems with starting, especially when cold. But there was no significant difference between cold and warm, at least not that I noticed. I now have the most important information and will arrange for the garage to diagnose the problem as soon as possible. I will of course keep you up to date! Thanks again for your efforts and I wish you the best of health too. Ciao!

(Translated from German)

Join the discussion now: