Black Smoke & Power Loss: Astra's Ignition Coil Crisis?

Hey there! I had very similar issues with my 2012 Vauxhall Insignia (1.8L petrol) last summer. The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I experienced, the black smoke, jerking, and starting problems were spot on. Took it to my regular mechanic, and it turned out the cable connection to one of the ignition coils was indeed defective. They found corrosion on the connector, which was causing a poor connection. The cable insulation had also worn down over time, leading to intermittent contact. Honestly, it's not a super serious issue if caught early, but it can definitely cause damage to your catalytic converter if left unfixed for too long. In my case, they had to replace two ignition coil cables and clean the connectors. The car's been running smoothly since then, no more black smoke or rough idling. Make sure they check all the coil connections, not just the obviously faulty ones. Sometimes one bad connection can mask other developing issues. Would definitely suggest getting it looked at soon before it potentially causes more problems.

Thanks for sharing your experience! This is really helpful, sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with. My Astra's been giving me grief just like your Insignia did. Do you remember roughly how much you paid for the repairs? Also, has everything been running smooth since then, or have you noticed any other issues popping up? Just want to know what I might be in for!

Hey again! Happy to help out! Yeah, I totally remember the cost because I kept the receipt, it was exactly 365€ to fix the cable connection to the ignition coil. Looking back, it was money well spent because my Insignia has been running like a dream since then! After the mechanic diagnosed and fixed that defective ignition coil and the misfiring issues, all those annoying symptoms, you know, the black smoke, jerking, and power loss, completely disappeared. Actually, it's been almost a year now since the repair, and I haven't had a single problem with the ignition system. The car starts perfectly every time, and the engine runs super smooth. No more check engine light either, which is always a good sign! Just make sure you get it fixed soon, trust me, it's worth getting it sorted before it causes any bigger problems. And yeah, if your symptoms are as similar as they sound, you're probably looking at the same kind of repair. Hope this helps!

Cheers for all the info! Just got back from the mechanic today and wanted to update you. You were spot on, it was definitely the ignition coils! Had to shell out about 400€, a bit more than what you paid, but they found some additional wear and tear that needed sorting. The difference is like night and day! Took it for a test drive, and it's running perfectly now, no more black smoke, jerking's gone, and it's got its power back. The mechanic I found was actually really good, explained everything clearly and showed me the old parts. Funny thing is, they mentioned exactly what you said about catching it early before it damages the catalytic converter. Really glad I didn't wait any longer to get it fixed. Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction, saved me a lot of headache and probably some money too! I'll definitely keep an eye on those coils from now on. Feels great to have my reliable old Astra back to normal!