Black Diesel Smoke: Galant DPF Failure Support Needed

Had the same problems with my '04 Mitsubishi Lancer Diesel last winter. Black smoke, sluggish acceleration, and that annoying check engine light, classic DPF failure symptoms. Took it to my local Mitsubishi specialist after trying a forced regeneration that didn't help. Turns out the DPF was internally defective and needed a complete replacement. There was soot buildup and internal damage that was blocking proper exhaust flow. The repair involved removing the entire DPF unit, and they found that the internal honeycomb structure was cracked. It wasn't just a simple cleaning job, they had to install a new unit. Took them about a day and a half to complete everything, including testing. It was a serious repair since a faulty DPF can cause engine damage if left unfixed.

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful since it sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with. Glad you got it sorted out. Did you remember roughly how much the whole repair set you back? Also, has everything been running smoothly since the replacement, or have you noticed any other issues pop up?

Hey there! Happy to give you an update. Since getting my Lancer fixed at Mike's, it's been running like a dream, no more black smoke or power issues. The repair cost me 1550€ total, which was a bit of a hit to the wallet, but honestly worth every penny considering how much better the car runs now. The heavy load warning on the DPF that was causing all those problems is completely gone. Mike's team found that the internal components of the DPF were shot, but once they fixed that, everything else fell into place. The car feels way more responsive now, and I haven't had a single issue since the repair. I was pretty nervous about the whole thing at first, but it turned out to be the right call getting it fixed when I did. Been about 8 months now, and no check engine lights or any other problems have popped up. Fuel economy's better too, which is a nice bonus. Definitely recommend getting it sorted sooner rather than later, these DPF issues only get worse if you leave them!

Thanks so much for the detailed follow-up! I actually went ahead and took your advice, booked an appointment with Mike's Auto Service yesterday. Got my car back today and wow, what a difference! The whole repair came to about 1600€, pretty close to what you paid. The mechanic showed me the old DPF, it was completely clogged up, just like yours was. They replaced the unit and ran some tests to make sure everything was working properly. The black smoke is gone, and the engine feels so much more powerful now. Even the exhaust smell has disappeared. Really glad I asked here and got your recommendation. Mike's team was super professional and explained everything clearly. Definitely beats my last mechanic experience! Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction, you saved me a lot of hassle and probably prevented more serious engine problems down the line.