Vauxhall Adam: Black Smoke & Power Loss Symptoms Decoded

Hi there! I had a similar issue with my 2015 Vauxhall Corsa 1.4L. The symptoms were pretty much identical, black smoke, power issues, and terrible fuel economy. Turned out I had an exhaust leak near the manifold. Took it to my trusted local mechanic, and they found several cracks that needed fixing. The whole repair, including parts and labor, cost me around 265 Euro. Since then, the car's been running like new. Based on your symptoms, it could be the same issue, but it's hard to tell without a proper inspection. What's your mileage, and have you noticed any unusual exhaust noise? Also, when was the last time you had your exhaust system checked? These details would help narrow down the problem. Best of luck!

Thanks for sharing your experience! My mileage is currently at 105554 KM, and I haven't noticed any specific exhaust noise. I had my last service about 3 months ago, but they didn't mention any exhaust issues. I'll definitely get it checked for leaks near the manifold, that's not something I'd considered. The price you mentioned seems reasonable if it fixes the problem. Did your car also jerk during acceleration when you had this issue?

Hey again! Yes, absolutely, my Corsa had that exact same jerking during acceleration! It was really annoying, especially when trying to merge onto highways. The jerking was actually one of the main things that tipped my mechanic off about the exhaust leak. When the exhaust gases can't flow properly because of the cracks, it messes with the engine's performance and causes that jerky behavior. With your mileage being similar to what mine was when I had the problem (I was at around 98000 KM), it could very well be the same issue. Just because the service didn't catch it 3 months ago doesn't mean much, these cracks can develop pretty quickly, especially if you drive on rough roads or hit a few nasty potholes. One thing I forgot to mention in my first reply, before I got it fixed, I also noticed the problem was worse on cold mornings. Did you notice anything like that? The cracks in my manifold would contract more in the cold, making the symptoms more obvious. I'd definitely recommend getting it checked out soon. The longer you leave it, the worse it could get, I learned that the hard way by waiting a couple of weeks! Let me know what you find out!

Thanks so much for the detailed response! Actually, yes, now that you mention it, the car does seem to act up more on cold mornings. I've just been putting it down to general cold-weather behavior, but what you're saying makes total sense. I didn't realize exhaust leaks could develop so quickly after a service, but I guess those potholes on my daily commute might have something to do with it. I've just called my local garage and booked it in for next Tuesday. Better to get it sorted now before it gets worse, especially with winter coming up. The jerking on highway merges has been making me quite nervous lately, so hopefully, this will fix it. Really appreciate your help, it's given me a much clearer idea of what might be wrong. I'll update once I get the diagnosis! Thanks again for taking the time to help me out!