Seeking Advice on 2020 Renault Arkana's Engine Problems: Black Smoke, Power Loss, and Poor Fuel Economy

Hey, sounds like you're in a pickle, but don't worry we're here to help! I had a similar issue with my 2018 Renault Kadjar a while back, so I reckon we're in familiar territory. To give you an idea of my car know-how, I may not be a certified mechanic, but I do have some experience working on my own vehicles over the years. Trust me, I spent enough time in the garage to learn a thing or two! When my Kadjar started acting up just like your Arkana, I decided to book an appointment with my local workshop. Turned out, it was a defective cable/plug issue. I had to cough up 95 euro to get it sorted, but it did solve the problem straightaway. But to get a clear picture of what's happening with your Arkana, it'd be helpful to know if you've made any recent changes to the car or if there's any specific symptoms you've observed besides the ones mentioned. Hope this helps, and fingers crossed you get your Renault purring like a kitten again soon! Cheers!

Hey, thanks for reaching out! So, you think it could be a faulty cable/plug too, huh? Your insight surely makes me feel a tad relieved! Although, I haven't done any major changes, only the usual stuff. I guess I should've mentioned in my previous message that my Arkana has clocked a respectable 20075 km so far. Funny thing is, these issues started creeping up just a bit after my latest service. Seems like I should probably swing by my local workshop then, just like you did with your Kadjar. They might just catch something I'm missing out on. You bet I'm hoping to get my gal roarin' fine again! Thanks for the advice and the good vibes. Cheers!

No problem at all! Glad I could chime in. The mileage you've mentioned doesn't scream out any major issues, so it's a bit curious, but vehicles can be full of surprises. The fact that these issues popped up after your latest service might be a key point there. I'd suggest you double-check what exactly was done during that service - perhaps something was overlooked or not properly taken care of. That happened to me once with a previous car, a bit of a nightmare, but found the problem and got it sorted. Hit up your local workshop, and don't be shy to mention your suspicions about the fuel composition errors. Even though it was a cable/plug matter with my Kadjar, every case is unique, so your Arkana might be playing a different ball game. Hope you can get this issue straightened out without breaking the bank. Keep us posted about what happens - I'm sure your experience will be super helpful for others who end up in the same boat. Best of luck! Cheers!

You're bang on! Cars can surely throw curveballs at us. I've gone through the service records again, and there wasn't anything substantial done. It's mostly regular maintenance stuff like coolant top-up, brake fluid change, etc. But, you know what, you are probably onto something about the fuel composition error. I do remember filling up at a gas station that I don't typically use around the time problems started cropping up. I was in a bit of a pinch with a near-empty tank. This could well be the wrench in the works! Summing everything up, my best play seems to be the workshop visit at this point. I will definitely share what I discover with the community here. Who knows, this might turn into a valuable lesson for us all. Really appreciate the solid advice, the optimism, and for taking the time to lend me a hand. I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best! Cheers!