Seeking Advice for 2004 Hyundai Getz with Engine Light Warning, Power Loss, Exhaust Issues, and Emitting Black Smoke

Hey there, I had a similar problem on my 2002 Hyundai Accent. I'm not a mechanic, but I have some basic car fixing experience. When my car showed similar symptoms, the issue turned out to be a defective lambda sensor. I took my car to my local workshop where they confirmed the diagnosis and replaced the defective sensor. It cost me 375€ in total to fix the issue. I would recommend you get your Getz checked by a professional because diagnosing these problems can be tricky. Perhaps you could provide some extra info about your car? Like its mileage, and when was the last time you had a tune-up or any parts replaced? That might help us narrow down the possible causes and offer more specific advice. Best of luck!

Hey, thanks for the insight! Yeah, you're right about going to a professional. I'm planning a trip to my local mechanic as well, just trying to get some ideas from here too. To give some more context, my 2004 Getz now has 119963 KM on it. It's been a while since the last service, so it might be due a tune-up soon but I've been noticing these issues progressively getting worse. Let's see what the mechanic says. Again, I appreciate your advice, fingers crossed it's nothing major and won't cost me an arm and a leg!

No worries at all, always happy to help a fellow Hyundai owner out! Given the mileage you mentioned and the symptoms, I still think it might be a sensor issue like in my case. That black smoke is a notorious sign of a rich mixture probably due to bad signals that the Engine Control Unit (ECU) gets from the lambda sensor. The strong smell can also indicate that unburned fuel is getting out. But again, I'm not a professional, so it's just my best guess based on personal experience. Regarding the tune-up, a well-maintained car is a reliable car, especially with engines as durable as Hyundai's. So it might be a good idea to get it checked out and serviced just in case. I hope it turns out to be something as simple as the issue I had with my Accent. Good luck with the mechanic, hope it doesn't dig too deep into the pocket. Do keep us updated!

Yeah, I see what you mean. I did some research and your guess about the lambda sensor might be spot on. The unburned fuel theory makes sense given the smell from the exhaust. Trust me, it's not a pleasant odor! I completely agree about regular maintenance. I hate to admit that I could have been a bit complacent on that front. Let's hope this is a reminder for me to keep on top of things from now on. I'm getting it checked out tomorrow morning, so with a bit of luck, it won't be too painful on the wallet. And for sure, I'll keep you in the loop as I know how useful these discussions can be for other Hyundai owners facing similar issues. If it's the lambda sensor, I'll know who to thank! Fingers crossed and thanks again for your help. Very much appreciated!

An i30 year 2017 1.4 140 hp km 115000 have had the error p0420 for a long time. the car is driven by my daughter. The error first occurred after the i30 broke down on the highway, failure of the engine in the workshop (Hyundai diagnosis) replaced an ignition coil. After about half a year the control light started its story, replacement of the spark plugs and the other 3 ignition coils then after deleting the error codes again and again after 100-500 km the same with the light. I also replaced the lambda sensor. Flushing the catalytic converter at a garage did not improve things. The independent workshop assured me that the catalytic converter is intact. No drop in performance in the whole time. The car is also driven on the highway every month and not slowly. There was a smell of gasoline when stationary. Does anyone have any idea and can help me, because the workshops are not cheap.

(Translated from German)

The P0420 code indicates a problem with the catalytic converter's efficiency. Since you've already replaced the lambda sensor and ignition coils, and the catalytic converter has been checked, it might be worth checking the fuel injectors. A faulty injector could cause a rich fuel mixture, leading to the gasoline smell and triggering the P0420 code. However, this is just a suggestion and it's always best to have a professional diagnose the issue. Please keep us updated on the progress.

It seems to me that the car also runs a bit rough at idle speed, as if it is about to stall.

(Translated from German)

Idle speed is at 667 1/min according to Tüv

(Translated from German)

The rough idle and the potential stalling could be related to a vacuum leak. Vacuum leaks can cause the engine to run unevenly at idle. I would suggest checking for any hissing sounds under the hood which could indicate a vacuum leak. However, these checks can be complex and it's always best to have a professional diagnose the issue. Please keep us updated on the progress.