Seeking Advice on Addressing Black Smoke, Check Engine Light, and Power Issues in 2017 Fiat Argo

Hey there. I can empathize with your predicament. Last year, my own 2014 Fiat Punto presented similar symptoms: poor mileage, rough acceleration, disturbing exhaust odors, and that blinkin' check engine light. Turned out it was a High-pressure pump issue rather than just the fuel volume regulator. The key indicator for the mechanics was black smoke during acceleration (just as you mentioned happening with your Argo). The high-pressure pump was basically not regulating the fuel injection properly, leading to the engine over-fuelling (hence, the black smoke) and eventually stalling. So, they ended up replacing the defective High-Pressure pump on my car. After the repair, she runs smoothly and the stalling and black smoke issue have totally vanished. This was a serious ordeal, to be sure, but hang in there. Get a second opinion if you feel unsure but don't ignore this - it could lead to more problems down the road if left unaddressed. Best of luck!

Hey, sounds like you've walked a mile in my shoes! It's really frustrating when your motor lets you down. Your Fiat Punto's ordeal rings familiar, that's a really helpful comparison to my Argo's issues. Since you also dealt with something similar, can you recall what you shelled out for the repairs? I'd like to get a rough idea of what to expect. Also, has anything else cropped up related to this since you got the pump replaced? Cheers in advance, any additional info would be ace.

Howdy! Yeah, I feel you, it's never a fun time when your car starts playing up. To answer your first question on the cost, I had to cough up around 1510€ to replace the faulty High-pressure pump in my Punto. Not cheap, but definitely better than risking more damage down the line. As for your second question, once my mechanic sorted out the pump, my car's been running like a dream with no recurring issues. The black smoke, stalling engine, all gone. Notably, the fuel volume regulating problem was addressed after seeing the mechanic and it's acted just fine since. You could say my car is almost as good as new! So don't hesitate and get that check-out done ASAP and fingers crossed, it might just be a one-off cost and your Argo will be back to purring along the roads in no time. Best of luck!

Thanks heaps! Your input was much needed for me right now. I'll book a slot with a new mechanic tomorrow and keep my fingers crossed for a similar scenario as yours. I was hoping to sail through without heavy expenses, but your experience tells me it's worth it in the long run, especially if it nips future faults in the bud. The cost does sting a bit, but knowing your Punto got back on track gives me hope for my Argo. Appreciate the insights. Will update once this thing is sorted. Cheers!