Hey guys,

so tonight I'm driving back home and just my luck, there is a bush fire - rather large too. Anyway, I'm driving along and there is a lot of soot and smoke, burning embers and ash. I've got my parkers, low beam, fog lights, high beams and hazard lights going. Starting to notice how it seems to be struggling along, virtually no power whatsoever even with my foot flat to the floor its really struggling. Next minute the check engine light comes on, wtf?
Get down the road and pull over. Car is shuddering and then stalled. Restarted alright but literally has no power and I have to keep my foot right down to get going?

What happened once you got away from the fire? Does it still have no power? how close to the fire were you?

Maybe the soot and ash has messed with the MAF sensor? Get some MAF sensor cleaner (available at Repco as an aerosol in the additives section) and clean the area as per the instructions on the can. If that doesn't work, as least you have a clean MAF sensor..

i would check the air filter.
in the old days off petrol fire truck,s the filter,s would get blocked with ash

Replace the air filter as a first step.

What happened once you got away from the fire? Does it still have no power? how close to the fire were you?

Well the check engine light came on when the smoke got really thick. I kept going with my foot all the way down and then my engine temp started rising so I backed off a bit. The fire was on the side of the road I was driving on. It was alright till the wind started blowing the fire and burning embers over my car :(

Also I forgot to mention, my fuel went down REALLY quickly and the car stinks of petrol.

Also I forgot to mention, my fuel went down REALLY quickly and the car stinks of petrol.

Whatever the problem is seems to be messing with your air/fuel mixture settings. I'm still banking on MAF sensor-related, but as above, replace your air filter first

Just pulled my air filter out. Its like literally charcoal! Burnt leaves in it and all! Car starts and runs much, much, much, much better without it in. Lucky I had a spare. Cheers guys, I was starting to get worried :)

a lesson for all members DO NOT DRIVE NEAR FIRE,S

Problem solvered

In relation to fire perhaps OP can start a thread in Members lounge so as to keep the tech section as tech?