VW Caddy Diesel Power Loss & Smoke Points to Injectors

Similar issue occurred on my 2019 VW Transporter diesel. As someone with moderate experience in engine maintenance, these symptoms immediately pointed to fuel injection problems. The excessive fuel consumption combined with power loss and smoke suggests a faulty connection to the fuel injectors. After the engine stalled a few times during my morning commute, I took it to my regular workshop. They diagnosed a loose electrical connection at one of the injector plugs, which was causing irregular fuel delivery. The repair involved cleaning the connector and replacing the damaged wiring. Total cost was 95€, including diagnostic time. Since the fix, fuel consumption returned to normal and the engine runs smoothly again. For your Caddy, could you share: Current mileage, Whether check engine light is on, Color of the smoke during acceleration, When maintenance was last performed This information would help determine if your issue is similar to what I experienced. Regular maintenance of the fuel system can prevent these problems, especially in modern diesel engines where injection timing is critical.

Thanks for sharing your experience. My Caddy had its last service just 2 weeks ago and shows 23419km on the odometer. The check engine light started flickering recently, and the smoke is distinctly black during acceleration. Engine power drops significantly when this happens, making the car feel sluggish and unresponsive. Worth noting that I did a full air filter replacement during the service, but these performance issues started showing up right after. Could there be a connection between the recent service work and these symptoms? The timing seems suspicious. Interesting that your repair cost was only 95€. Did that include parts or just labor? Hoping mine turns out to be something similarly straightforward.

Your situation sounds very familiar to what happened with my Transporter after a routine service. The timing of your symptoms starting right after the air filter replacement raises some red flags, as I had a similar experience. The black smoke and power loss you describe are classic signs of incorrect air-fuel mixture, which ties back to either the injection system or air intake. In my case, while the wiring issue was the main problem, we also discovered the air filter housing wasnt properly sealed after maintenance, causing unmetered air to enter the system. The 95€ I mentioned was just for labor and connector cleaning. However, given your symptoms started after the service, I recommend first checking if: The air filter housing is properly sealed, All sensor connections were properly reconnected, The fuel pressure regulator is functioning correctly These maintenance-related issues often create similar symptoms to injection problems. Since your Caddy has such low mileage, its unlikely to be severe internal fuel system damage. My suggestion would be to return to the workshop that did your recent service. They should verify their work at no cost, especially since the problems began immediately after their maintenance. A proper fuel system diagnostic might reveal if its genuinely an injector issue or just a post-service oversight.

Thanks for the detailed responses. After taking the Caddy back to the service center today, turns out it was indeed related to the recent maintenance work. The technician found that the air filter housing wasnt properly sealed and a fuel pressure sensor connector was loose, exactly as suggested. The engine power is now back to normal, and the diesel consumption has significantly improved. No more black smoke during acceleration either. Best part is they fixed it under warranty since it was their oversight during the last service. Really glad I asked here before assuming the worst about the injection system. Having diagnostic information from others with similar diesel engine issues helped me approach the workshop with more confidence about the potential causes. For anyone facing similar power loss and fuel consumption problems after a service, definitely worth checking these basic connections first. Saved me both time and money in the end.