Insignia's Cold Start & Power Loss: Fuel System Crisis?

Hey there! I had a very similar issue with my 2013 Vauxhall Astra (also had a Corsa before). I've got some experience working on cars, but I'm no expert. My car had almost identical symptoms, rough starts, power loss, and that annoying check engine light. Took it to my local mechanic, and it turned out the intake channels were seriously gunked up. They had to do a thorough cleaning of the intake system. The whole thing, including labor, set me back about 425 Euro, but it fixed the problem completely. Could you share your current mileage and whether you've had any previous work done on the intake system? Also, does it run better after the engine warms up? This info would help me give you more specific advice based on my experience.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My Insignia's at 267747 KM, and yeah, it does run slightly better when warm, but still not great. Had my last service about 3 months ago, but they didn't touch the intake system. It's interesting you mentioned the intake cleaning, my symptoms sound really similar to what you dealt with. Might give my mechanic a call and ask specifically about checking that. Did your fuel consumption go back to normal after the cleaning?

Hey again! Yeah, glad you asked about the fuel consumption, it definitely improved after the intake cleaning on my Astra. Before the fix, I was burning through fuel like crazy, probably using about 20-25% more than usual. After the cleaning, it went right back to normal within a couple of tanks. You know what's interesting? With your mileage being at 267747 KM, it's actually pretty similar to where my Astra was when I had these issues (mine was around 255000 KM). At that mileage, carbon buildup is pretty common in these Vauxhalls. The cleaning made a massive difference, not just with fuel economy, but also fixed that annoying jerking during acceleration. One thing I forgot to mention in my first reply, after the cleaning, my mechanic recommended using a fuel system cleaner every 6 months or so to prevent the buildup from happening again. I've been doing that religiously, and haven't had any issues since. Might be worth considering once you get yours sorted!

Thanks so much for all the detailed info! That's really helpful to know about the fuel system cleaner too, definitely going to keep that in mind for maintenance. I've just called my mechanic and booked it in for next Tuesday. They're going to check the intake system first based on what you've shared. The price you mentioned seems reasonable, especially if it sorts out all these issues. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, it's given me a much better idea of what I'm dealing with. I'll probably pick up some fuel system cleaner while I'm at it. Thanks again!