Hey there, I had a weirdly similar problem with my 2014 Fiat Uno, sis of your Palio. Now, I ain't no big shot mechanic but I've got a fair bit of experience dealing with some car problems. Turned out, my issue was a defective wiring harness/plug that was messing everything up. Went to the workshop and those sorted it right out. Cost me around 95€, not too painful for the wallet. Did you check on that? If not, it's worth doing before you go chasing after more complex and costly issues. Make sure you check your vehicle's wiring system to see if there's any noticeable damage or corrosion. Could you give more info about your car, like how many miles it's run so far, when was the last service done, things like that? Would help in figuring out what's what.

Hey, thanks for your response. So, my Palio has clocked in around 159648 km and its last service was not too long ago. I did some basic checking after I read your reply but couldn't spot any glaring issues with the wiring harness. But then again, I'm no expert either. I'll take it to the workshop and ask them to check the wiring system thoroughly, just in case. If it's something as simple as a defective plug, I'll be relieved! Appreciate your tip.

You're welcome! And don't worry, we're all just doing our best with these things. And kudos to you for checking on the wiring harness situation. Great, you're taking it in for a professional check. Just a quick heads up though, if the wiring is not the issue, you may want to take a look at the fuel injectors, fuel pump, maybe even the O2 and MAF sensors. Also, when was the last time your car had a thorough emission check? The black smoke and strong exhaust smell could be due to an issue with your car's emissions system. Just sharing from my own experiences with my Uno. Keep us posted on what the workshop say, interested to see what the actual problem turns out to be. Best of luck!

Thanks again for sharing your insights! The emissions test was done about six months ago but from the sounds of it, I reckon it's due for another. I'll have the mechanics give the components you mentioned a thorough hunt, especially the fuel injectors, fuel pump, and those sensors. I'm hoping the issue gets sorted out soon, I miss my smooth rides, you know? I'll definitely keep you updated on what the issue really was. Cheers for all your help!