Problems with Toyota Auris 2017: Black smoke, indicator light, bumpy engine and high fuel consumption - help wanted

Hi, I had a similar problem with my slightly older Toyota Corolla (built in 2015). I was fairly new to DIY car work back then, so I only have a bit of experience. At the workshop, they found out that the ceramic inside the lambda sensor was dirty/clogged. The repair cost me 375.0 euros, but since then everything has been fine and the problems you describe have disappeared. To be able to help you more accurately, it would be helpful if you could give me some additional information about your vehicle. Which lambda sensor are you currently using? Has the car covered a lot of kilometers or is it relatively new? The more details, the better. Hope that helps!

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Hi, thanks for the reply! Yes, I had also thought that it could be the lambda sensor. My Auris already has 258417 KM on the clock. I have to say that it's been a while since the last service. Unfortunately, I don't know exactly which lambda sensor is currently installed. I bought the car second-hand. I would be interested to know whether I could do this work myself or whether it's better to go to a garage? Thanks for your help!

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Hello again! Although I'm not a trained mechanic, I'm happy to share my experience. It sounds like you have a good guess, but there could be other reasons too - e.g. the mass air flow sensor could be faulty, the engine control unit could have a fault, or maybe it's just your car ignition that's faulty. But I have to say, with these kilometers, the lambda sensor could actually be the culprit. As for replacing the lambda sensor: I tried it myself once on my Corolla, but it was quite complicated and I wouldn't recommend it without the right tools and experience. Of course, it also depends on where the sensor is installed. Sometimes it is difficult to access and then it is better to have a professional do it. But before you do anything, have the fault memory of your car read out. This will often reveal the correct cause. If you are unsure, then I would advise you to go to a good garage that is familiar with Toyota. They will definitely be able to help you. The price for the replacement can vary greatly. For me it was 375.0 euros at the time, but it always depends on the amount of work involved and the specific model. I hope this helps you. Don't give up, you can do it!

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Hello and thanks for the detailed reply! It sounds like there could be several causes for my problems and that it would be a good idea to get a professional opinion. I think I will follow your advice to have the fault memory read and take the car to a good Toyota garage. I'm willing to spend money on a professional repair, especially because I'm not an experienced mechanic myself and it's important to me that my car is safe and reliable. It's very helpful to know that you've had similar problems and solved them. I now feel better equipped to speak to the garage. Thanks again for your support!

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