Seeking Advice for '04 Kia Cerato Gas Engine Problems: Black Smoke, High Fuel Consumption, and Stalling Issues

Hey there, I had a similar issue with my '02 Kia Optima. My mechanical knowledge falls into the 'low experience' category, but even I could tell something was up when similar symptoms appeared. Strong fuel scent, gobs of black smoke, jerky acceleration, you name it. I took it to my local workshop, and the problem turned out to be a defective wiring harness/plug. It cost me 95 Euro to have it replaced. They told me it was causing unusual power losses and some other weird stuff, messing up how the fuel and air mixed and burnt in the engine. Before you rush to conclusions, I suggest sharing more specifics about your Cerato. Like, what's its mileage, when did you last service it, and if any parts have been replaced recently? More info could help me or others provide more accurate advice. Cheers!

Appreciate the response and sharing your experience. Gets me thinking. My Cerato's clocked 181,118 KM, and the last service was done a few months back. Nothing major replaced recently though. It's a bummer because it never gave me any issues before this. Guess it's a reminder that even good cars have their off days. Will look into the wiring harness/plug bit you mentioned. Thanks again!

Hey, no problem we car owners gotta stick together, right? Considering your Kia's mileage, it's not uncommon for these problems to start rearing their heads. With my Optima, I had a similar set of symptoms around the 200k mark. My guess is, it could be anything from those bloody fuel injectors, the oxygen sensor could play a part, and let's not rule out the fuel pressure regulator. Any of these could potentially damage the air-fuel mixture in your engine, causing power loss, and the other symptoms you mentioned. Get a mechanic to scan your car's computer for error codes since the Check Engine light is on. This might point you in the right direction. I hope it's not much of a pricey fix though. And don't forget to keep us posted on what you find, alright? Good luck!

Cheers for the advice, and absolutely agreed; it's all about sticking together. I'll definitely look into the injectors, oxygen sensor, and fuel pressure regulator. I'm heading to the shop to get that computer error scan you mentioned. Here's hoping it's nothing pricy. You guys will be the first to know what's up. Thanks again and fingers crossed!