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JulesMey

Seeking Advice on Recurring Issues with 2011 Kia Pro Ceed: Black Smoke, Increased Fuel Consumption and Engine Trouble

Hey guys! I'm kinda stressed out about my 2011 Kia Pro Ceed. She's got around 138,783 km on her and runs on good ol' gasoline. Lately, some weird things have been happening that has me stumped, and a bit concerned. When I accelerate, black smoke burps out of the exhaust, and there's been a consistent check engine light that won't go away no matter what I do. She struggles to get up to speed and the engine feels a bit rocky, not as smooth as she used to be. Sometimes, when I'm at a stop, she just stalls and, let's not even talk about the shakiest idle ever. On the worst days, she won't start up at all, and I've been burning through fuel like there's no tomorrow. I got a gut feeling that it has something to do with a defective ignition coil or misfiring. Last time I went to a mechanic and let's just say it wasn't the best experience. Can any of you share if you've had a similar experience, how you diagnosed it, and how your visit to the mechanic turned out? Much appreciated!

4 comment(s)

Maxximum

Hey there! Sounds like some serious troubles. I had a similar issue with my 2014 Kia Rio. Same symptoms you described: rocky engine, bike battery-like starts, and the worst idle I'd ever seen. And oh lord, the fuel consumption! Turns out, my gut feeling was right, just like yours. It was indeed a defective cable connection to the ignition coil. Here's the thing – this ain't no minor issue. Ignition coils and cable connections play a big role in actually getting your car to start, plus they significantly impact performance. So, what I did was head straight to the garage. My mechanic found the fault during an engine diagnostic. In simple terms, the damn cable was missing some insulation, which screws the electrical connection between the ignition coil and spark plug. With that out of commission, no wonder the car was misfiring and guzzling gas. They swiftly replaced the dud parts and cable, and voila, it was as good as new! So, my advice: get that car of yours to a garage ASAP. Once you sort out the defective cable connection, you'll stop burning through fuel, your car will run smoother, and that annoying check engine light should finally give it a rest. Best of luck!

JulesMey (Author)

Hey! that's exactly the kind hint I had in my mind. And glad to hear you managed to get it all fixed. Fingers crossed it's the same problem with my Pro Ceed. I'm hesitant about mechanics after my last disaster but it looks like another visit is unavoidable. Just to get an idea, can you recall roughly how much it cost you to sort all that out in your Kia Rio? And has the same problem or anything related popped up again since then? Cheers.

Maxximum

Hey! I totally get you, settling for a mechanic involves a heap of trust. But things worked out pretty smooth for my Rio. First things first, the bill cost me about 365.00 € for that sickly cable connection. Bit pricey, I know, but hey, you gotta pay to play, right? Since getting it fixed, I haven't had any repeats of the ignition coil issue or anything remotely linked to it. It was like a solid kick-start to my little beast and she’s been purring like a well-fed cat ever since. Trust me, after you sort out the cable connection to the ignition coil, that Pro Ceed of yours will get back on its feet in no time! Here's to reaching a swift resolution, my! Knock on wood, the worst is probably behind you. Cheers!

JulesMey (Author)

you've been a huge help, really appreciate your insight! A bit pricey indeed, but at this point, I'm just eager to get my Kia back to her old self. Your experience gives me hope that a reliable fix is possible and not something that keeps recurring. Time to get over my apprehension about mechanics, bite the bullet and get this issue sorted once and for all. Anyway, wouldn't want my lady stalling in the middle of nowhere, right? I'll definitely let you know how it goes. Couldn't have asked for better guidance. Cheers and wish me luck!

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