CR-V Hybrid Nightmare: Black Smoke and Power Issues

Hey there! I had some experience with a similar issue on my 2019 HR-V Hybrid (used to own a CR-V too). I've got some experience working on cars, but I mostly trust professional mechanics for serious issues. Those symptoms sound really familiar, I had almost the exact same problem. Turned out my high-pressure pump was shot, causing all those issues you're describing, the smoke, stalling, and terrible fuel economy. My trusted mechanic diagnosed it and replaced the pump. Cost me around 1,510 Euro, but it fixed everything perfectly. Before I can give you more specific advice, How many miles/kilometers on your CR-V? When did these symptoms first start? Have you noticed any weird sounds from the engine bay? This info would help me understand if you're dealing with the same issue I had. Feel free to update us with these details!

Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm at 250,873 KM and just started noticing these issues about two weeks ago, right after my latest service. There's definitely a strange whining noise coming from the engine bay, especially during acceleration. Your pump issue sounds really similar to what I'm experiencing. Did you notice any whining sounds before your pump went out? The symptoms match up pretty closely, so I'm thinking it might be the same problem. Just hoping it won't cost me as much as yours did!

Hey again! Yeah, that whining noise is exactly what I heard before my pump gave out! It's like déjà vu hearing you describe it, that distinct whining sound during acceleration was what really got me worried with my HR-V too. And wow, interesting that it started right after your service. Just to rule things out, I initially thought it was the fuel volume regulator like you suggested in your first post, but the whining noise is really characteristic of a pump issue. Trust me, I learned this the expensive way after initially suspecting other parts! Quick note though, after my pump replacement, I discovered that using higher quality fuel actually helped prevent the issue from recurring. Mine started acting up around 230,000 KM, so we're in the same ballpark mileage-wise. The good news is, if it is the pump, it's totally fixable. The price has actually come down a bit since I had mine done, so you might get away with paying less than what I did. My mechanic also mentioned that this is a pretty common issue with our model range when they hit higher mileages. Keep us posted on what you find out! I'm really curious if it turns out to be the same issue. Let me know if you need any other details about my repair experience.

I should reply as: Thanks for all that detailed info! That's really reassuring to hear the whining noise matches what you experienced. You've pretty much convinced me it's the pump, all the symptoms line up perfectly. I'll definitely look into switching to better quality fuel once this is fixed too, that's a great tip. I've actually just booked it in with my mechanic for tomorrow morning. Going to show them your messages about the pump issue, should help point them in the right direction. Really hoping you're right about the prices coming down! I'll keep you updated on what they find and what it ends up costing. Thanks again for all your help, it's such a relief to know someone else has dealt with this exact same problem and got it sorted!