Black smoke and uneven engine running in the VW Polo 2011: Possible defect in the lambda sensor heater

Hello, I had similar symptoms with my 2014 VW Golf. In my case, it was the engine control unit that was faulty. The same signs - jerky driving, increased fuel consumption and the indicator light. Fortunately, it was quite easy to fix at my regular garage. They replaced the engine control unit and reprogrammed it. After that, the car ran smoother again and the fuel consumption also went back to normal values. I would recommend discussing it with your mechanic. Maybe you can achieve something similar. It's definitely a serious matter, but it worked well for me. Good luck!

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Hey, this post has made me curious. I also had a similar problem with my Polo and I'm wondering whether it might have something to do with the engine control unit. Can you remember approximately how much it cost your garage to replace the engine control unit? And have there been any problems since then or has that really solved the problem completely? Thanks for your information!

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Hey, sure, I remember that. Replacing the engine control unit went quite smoothly, and it was also financially feasible. I had to pay around €1000 for it. Not a small amount, but it was definitely worth it. Since then, my Golf has been running perfectly and fuel consumption has also normalized. And yes, the problem with the lambda probe heater has also been fixed. So, I'm happy with the solution and have had no further problems. I hope this helps you!

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Hey, thanks for answering my question in such a detailed and helpful way. I had also thought about a sum like that, but if it fixes the problem, it's worth it. I'm glad to hear that your Golf has been running well since then. I think I'll suggest this to my mechanic and see what he says. Thanks again for your help, I'll keep you posted on how it develops! Bye!

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