Land Rover Freelander Black Smoke & Power Loss Mystery

Had almost identical issues with my 2003 Land Rover Discovery (gas engine). The black smoke, power loss, and hissing were pretty similar to what you're describing. During my garage visit, they found damaged cables on the electric changeover valve, which was affecting the EGR system. The wiring had worn through and was causing the valve to malfunction. This explained both the smoke and the power issues. It wasn't a catastrophic problem, but definitely needed fixing ASAP to prevent engine damage. The repair involved replacing the wiring harness and cleaning the EGR valve. After the fix, the engine light went off, and both the smoke and hissing disappeared completely. Your symptoms match this scenario pretty closely. I'd suggest getting it checked soon, running it like this could lead to bigger problems with your engine.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the Discovery! It's really helpful since it sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with. Such a relief to hear it wasn't something major. I've been worried sick about potential engine damage. Did you remember roughly how much you paid for the repairs? Also, just curious, has everything been running smoothly since the fix, or have you noticed any other issues pop up?

Hey there! Happy to help with an update about my Discovery repair. The fix cost me 155.00 € to repair those damaged cables on the electric changeover valve, and I can honestly say it was money well spent. Since getting it sorted, my car's been running like a charm, no more black smoke, weird noises, or power issues. The EGR system's working perfectly now. I know you're worried about engine damage, but once you get those cables fixed, you should be good to go. My Discovery's been performing great for months now, no new problems have shown up. The engine's running smooth, and that annoying check engine light hasn't made another appearance. Trust me, getting it fixed was the right call. The relief of not having to worry about that black smoke anymore was worth every penny. Hope this helps give you some peace of mind about getting yours repaired!

Thanks so much for the detailed update! I actually just got back from the mechanic today. You were spot on, it was the EGR system causing all the trouble. Found a new mechanic who seemed really honest and knew his stuff. Turns out my repair was a bit pricier at 220.00 € because they had to replace the entire EGR valve, not just the wiring. But honestly, it was totally worth it! The car's running amazingly now. No more black smoke, the hissing's gone, and the engine feels much stronger. Such a relief! Funny thing is, I was so nervous about going to a new mechanic, but this guy was fantastic. He showed me the damaged parts and explained everything clearly. Should've made the switch ages ago! Thanks again for giving me the confidence to get it checked out. Sometimes you just need that extra push to make the right decision. Really appreciate the help!