Opel Captiva 2011: Erratic engine operation, excessive fuel consumption and black exhaust smoke

Hello, I had a similar problem with my 2014 Opel Insignia. The engine was running rough and fuel consumption was noticeably higher. It turned out that the engine control unit was defective. Like you, the black smoke was a big warning signal. It was quite serious, as the car was shaking quite a lot and didn't have full power. The mechanic had to completely replace the ECU. This sounds very much like an engine control unit problem, although I'm not a mechanic. But on my last garage drive it seemed pretty serious. Hopefully that's not the case for you, but in any case you should have it checked as soon as possible to avoid major damage. Good luck with that!

(Translated from German)

Hi, this also reminds me of a problem I had with my Captiva. It was a real headache at the time. Do you happen to remember how much it cost you to replace the control unit? And has anything else come up since then that you've had to fix?

(Translated from German)

Hi, it's been a while, but I remember that it cost me a whopping 1000.0 euros to repair the engine control unit. Not exactly a penny, but since then the car has been running like a kitten again. And to answer your other question: yes, I actually had to tackle something else. The lambda sensor heater was faulty. But we got it fixed by the mechanic. Fortunately, there's been no further stress since then. Hope this helps you and keep your fingers crossed that your problem is solved quickly!

(Translated from German)

Thank you both for your advice! This sounds like serious stuff.... I was hoping it was something smaller. I will definitely get it checked out as soon as possible. It's reassuring to know that everything was fine after the repair. Really hope I have the same luck! Stay healthy and take care of your cars guys!

(Translated from German)