Vectra's Black Smoke & Stalling: Fuel System Crisis?

Hey there, I had similar issues with my 2010 Vauxhall Insignia (2.0L petrol) a while back. The symptoms were almost identical, rough running, black smoke, and power loss. Turned out the fuel pump control module had incorrect software values, causing irregular fuel delivery. Took it to the Vauxhall specialist in town who diagnosed it properly. They had to reprogram the engine control unit and recalibrate the fuel pump settings. It wasn't a quick fix, had the car in the shop for two days as they needed to run multiple tests to ensure everything was working correctly. While it wasn't a cheap repair, it definitely wasn't as serious as I initially feared, no mechanical damage to the engine or fuel system. The car's been running smoothly for the past year with no issues. Your symptoms sound very similar to what I experienced. I'd recommend finding a garage that specializes in Vauxhall diagnostics, as these issues often need proper diagnostic equipment to identify and fix correctly. Hope this helps!

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful as it sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with. Just wondering, do you remember roughly how much the repair set you back? And has everything been running smoothly since then, or have you had any other niggles pop up? Would be great to know what to expect cost-wise before I head to the garage.

Hey again! Happy to give you an update! After seeing the mechanic, they diagnosed and fixed the Low pressure fuel system fault. The total cost came to 45.00 €, basically just needed to correct some software values in the fuel pump system. Pretty reasonable compared to what I was initially worried about! Since the fix, my Insignia has been running like a dream, no more black smoke, stalling, or power issues. It's been about a year now, and I haven't had any related problems pop up. The engine's running smooth as silk, and my fuel economy has actually improved a bit too. I was really relieved it turned out to be just a software issue rather than something more serious with the mechanical parts. If your symptoms are similar to what I had, hopefully you'll be looking at a similarly straightforward fix. Let me know how you get on with yours, always interested to hear if others have had the same experience!

Thanks a lot for all the details! I took your advice and found a Vauxhall specialist nearby. Went there yesterday, and you were spot on, it was indeed a fuel system issue. The mechanic was great, explained everything clearly, and fixed it for about €500. Bit more than yours but still better than what I was fearing! The car's running perfectly now, no more black smoke or stalling. Such a relief! And honestly, the whole experience wasn't nearly as stressful as I thought it would be. The mechanic even showed me what they were doing and gave me some tips for maintaining the car better. Really appreciate everyone's help here. It's good to know I'm not the only one who's dealt with these issues. Guess I can finally sleep without worrying about my car breaking down! Time to enjoy my smoke-free drives again.