Black Smoke & Power Loss: Outlander EGR Mystery

Hey there! I had similar issues with my 2013 Mitsubishi ASX last year. The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I experienced, black smoke, power loss, and that distinctive hissing. Turned out the electrical cables connected to the EGR changeover valve were damaged, causing the valve to malfunction. Took it to my regular mechanic who specializes in Asian vehicles. They found several worn-out cables that were causing intermittent electrical signals to the EGR system. Had to replace the wiring harness and the valve itself since it got damaged from improper operation. Not a super serious issue if caught early, but it can lead to bigger problems if left unattended. The repair took about half a day at the shop. Since then, the car's been running perfectly, no smoke, full power restored, and no more hissing sounds.

Hey, this is really helpful! Mine got fixed up a few months ago with pretty much the same diagnosis, faulty wiring to the EGR valve. Just curious, do you remember roughly how much you had to shell out for the repair? Also, has everything been running smooth since then, or have you noticed any other quirks pop up? My Outlander's been behaving so far, but you know how these things go...

Hey again! Yeah, I remember exactly what I paid, it was 155€ to fix those damaged cables on the electric changeover valve. My ASX has been running like a dream since then! The EGR function is working perfectly now, and I haven't had a single issue pop up since the repair. That nasty black smoke and power loss completely disappeared as soon as they fixed the wiring problem. I totally get why you're asking about potential future issues, I was worried about the same thing! But honestly, it's been over a year now and my car's performing better than ever. The repair shop really knew what they were doing, and fixing those cables seemed to sort out all the problems I was having. No more check engine lights or weird noises, just smooth sailing! Good to hear your Outlander's behaving too. Once you get these electrical gremlins sorted out, these cars are actually pretty reliable. Keep an eye on it, but I reckon you should be all good now that it's fixed properly!

Thanks so much for sharing that! Yeah, my repair was actually pretty similar cost-wise, paid about 170€ all in. Got it done at AutoTech on Main Street after reading some solid reviews online. The mechanic there, Mike, really knew his stuff and walked me through everything they were doing. What a relief to hear your ASX is still running great! My Outlander's been perfect since the fix, no more smoke, weird noises, or that annoying check engine light. The power's back to normal too, which makes highway driving so much better. Honestly feels like a different car now! Guess we both lucked out finding mechanics who actually knew what they were doing with these Mitsubishis. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, definitely helped calm my nerves about the whole situation. Here's hoping both our cars keep running smoothly!