JoMueller

Fiat 500 presenting black smoke and unstable engine issues: Seeking advice

Hey everyone, I've got a 2012 Fiat 500 (petrol, done around 164752 km) and been having some issues recently. When I accelerate, there's a cloud of black smoke from the exhaust. The check engine light's constantly lit, longer cold start times, loss of engine power, unstable engine, juddery acceleration. I've even had a few horrible moments where it wouldn't start and stalls or shakes while idle. I think it might be a mixture preparation problem, after ruling out a few other possibilities. I've been to a mechanic before with little luck. Was wondering if anyone out there has had similar symptoms on their car? Would love to hear how your mechanic sorted the issue. Just trying to get an idea of what I'm dealing with and what's the best next step. Cheers in advance.

4 comment(s)

Hey there, What you've described sounds awfully familiar. I own a 2009 Fiat Bravo, and I had a strikingly similar issue last year. Turns out my fuel pressure regulator was at fault, manifesting symptoms just like yours - black smoke, shaky idling, and even occasional stalling. My experience with this wasn't a cakewalk. It was indeed a serious matter as the defective regulator messes up the fuel-air proportion going to the engine. Initially, the frequent stalling, rough idling, and the cloudy emissions were minimal, but they gradually escalated. Thus, my mechanic had to replace the defective fuel pressure regulator. This nifty device keeps the fuel pressure in check, but when it's out of order, the pressure fluctuates wildly, causing a multitude of issues. When you mix too much fuel with less air, that results in a rich fuel mixture, which, in turn, leads to black smoke from the exhaust, just like in your Fiat 500. The process involved in the replacement wasn't overly complicated, but it did require expertise to ensure the right fittings and secure connections. Bottom line, consult your mechanic and get your fuel pressure regulator checked. If the symptoms match, you might need a replacement like I did. Hope this helps!

Hey. Greatly appreciate your response! What you've gone through is remarkably similar to my own predicament, and the fuel pressure regulator explanation makes a whole lot of sense. Out of curiousity, you remember how much you shelled out for the regulator replacement? And did you run into any other related issues thereafter? Cheers.

Hey, I'm glad my previous experience might be of some help to you! Well, as you know, these kind of problems aren't exactly wallet-friendly, but they're essential nonetheless. The fuel pressure regulator fix ran me a cool 250€. Not exactly peanuts, but definitely worth the peace of mind, considering how much of a headache it had become. And to add something that might give you a sigh of relief, after getting the regulator replaced and addressing the faulty mixture preparation, everything's been pretty smooth sailing. My Fiat's been running like a charm since then with no related problems. Just ensure you've got a reliable and competent mechanic on the job and you should be in the clear! Take care!

Hey, you've genuinely put my mind at ease. A bill of 250€ doesn’t appear too bad, at least not when compared to the potential harm if this issue goes unchecked. I'm feeling much more prepared to confront this now. Gonna take your advice and have a chat with my mechanic about the fuel pressure regulator promptly. Fingers crossed it does the trick like it did for you. We'll soon see how my little Fiat will fare. Thanks again for sharing your experience. It's been super valuable. Catch you later!

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