Glow Plug Troubles? Black Smoke Signals DPF Crisis

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2019 Mitsubishi ASX diesel last winter. I have some experience working on cars, but nothing too advanced. What you're describing sounds exactly like what I went through. Turned out to be a damaged wiring harness between the glow control unit and engine control unit. My trusted mechanic found that the wires were worn out and causing all those symptoms, black smoke, hard starts, and warning lights. The fix cost me around 395€, including parts and labor. They had to replace the entire wiring harness, but it solved all the problems completely. Could you share your mileage and whether you've had any previous repairs related to the glow plug system? This info would help me give you more specific advice based on my experience. Feel free to ask any questions, happy to help!

Thanks for sharing your experience! My Outlander has 64916 KM on the clock and the last service was just 2 months ago. That's interesting about the wiring harness, it's definitely something I'll look into. The symptoms you described match mine perfectly. I might take it to the dealer this week to have them check the wiring, since it seems like a common issue. Did you notice any other warning lights before you got it fixed?

Hey again! Yeah, actually before I got my ASX fixed, I did notice a few other warning lights popping up. The EGR warning light would occasionally flash, and I also got the emissions system warning light a couple of times. They would come and go unsual, which was really frustrating! With your mileage being around 65K, it's actually quite similar to when my issues started (I was at about 70K). Since your car was recently serviced, it's a bit strange that they didn't catch this during the inspection. But honestly, these wiring issues can be pretty tricky to spot unless you're specifically looking for them. Just a heads up from my experience, when you take it to the dealer, make sure they check the connections near the firewall. That's where my wiring was most worn out. The vibration from the engine had slowly damaged the insulation over time. The fix was totally worth it in my case, my ASX runs like new now. No more black smoke, cold starts are quick again, and all those annoying warning lights are gone. Let me know how it goes with the dealer!

Thanks so much for all the detailed information! It's really helpful to know about those additional warning lights, I'll definitely mention them to the dealer. I've actually noticed the EGR light flickering a few times too, but didn't think it was related. You've given me a lot more confidence about what might be wrong. I'll make sure to ask them to specifically check the wiring near the firewall, as you suggested. Really appreciate you sharing the costs too, at least now I have a rough idea of what to expect. I've booked it in for next Tuesday, and I'll update this thread once I know what they find. Thanks again for taking the time to help me out with this! It's always good to hear from someone who's actually dealt with the same issue.