L200 Power Loss & Stalling: Sensor or Something Worse?

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2008 Mitsubishi Pajero Diesel (I've got some experience working on cars, mostly basic maintenance stuff). Those symptoms sound exactly like what I dealt with last year. My engine was doing the same dance, losing power, rough idling, and being a pain to start. Turned out it was indeed the camshaft position sensor playing up. Took it to my trusted workshop, and they confirmed it after running diagnostics. The fix wasn't super complicated, but including parts and labor, it set me back about 695€. Can you share which engine variant your L200 has and how many miles are on it? This could help me give you more specific advice since these sensors can act differently depending on the engine type and mileage. Quick fix by my mechanic made the car run like new again, but just make sure you get it checked soon, driving with a faulty sensor can cause more serious engine problems down the line.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My L200's got 70436 KM on the clock and just had its service last month. Your situation sounds spot on with what I'm experiencing. It's good to know it might just be the sensor, I was worried it could be something more serious. Guess I'll need to book it in with my mechanic soon. Did your Pajero give you any warning signs before it completely acted up, or did it just happen suddenly?

Oh glad you asked about the warning signs! Yeah, looking back, my Pajero actually did give me some hints before it went completely haywire. At first, it was just minor stuff, like occasionally feeling a tiny hesitation when accelerating, especially on cold mornings. I kind of brushed it off thinking it was just the cold weather or maybe some bad fuel. But then it got progressively worse over about two weeks. Started with unusual small jerks while cruising, then the idle got rougher, especially after the engine was warm. My fuel economy also took a hit, started using about 2L/100km more than usual, which I noticed when filling up. The real wake-up call came when I was on my way to work one morning, and the car just died at a traffic light, super embarrassing! That's when I finally got my act together and took it to the workshop. Sounds like you're catching it at about the same stage I was in when things started getting obvious. One tip though, when my mechanic replaced the sensor, he mentioned it's worth checking the wiring harness too. Apparently, these sensors can fail because of corroded or damaged wiring, not just the sensor itself. Might be worth asking your mechanic to check that while they're at it. Could save you from having the same problem again in a few months!

Thanks so much for all that detail, especially about the warning signs! Now that you mention it, I did notice my fuel consumption going up recently, but I didn't connect the dots. And yeah, I've been getting those morning hesitations too, thought it was just the cold weather we've been having! I'll definitely take it to my mechanic this week and mention checking the wiring harness as well. Really don't want to end up stranded at a traffic light like you did! It's such a relief to hear that it's likely just the sensor and not something more serious with the engine. I'll update the thread once I get it sorted, might help someone else with the same issue. Really appreciate your help with this!