Outlander Diesel Nightmare: Power Loss & Black Smoke Issues

Hey there, I had almost identical issues with my 2016 Mitsubishi ASX Diesel last year. The symptoms you're describing match exactly what I experienced, power loss, rough idle, black smoke, and terrible fuel economy. Took it to my regular mechanic and turns out it was indeed the fuel rail pressure sensor. The faulty sensor was sending wrong readings to the ECU, causing the engine to dump too much fuel into the system. The smoke and fuel smell were dead giveaways. In my case, they had to replace the pressure sensor and recalibrate the fuel system. It wasn't a major repair, but definitely not something you want to ignore as it can lead to bigger problems with the injectors if left unchecked. The whole job took about half a day. Been running smoothly since then, no issues with power or fuel consumption. If you're in doubt about your mechanic, look for one who specializes in diesel engines, preferably with Mitsubishi experience. These symptoms are pretty specific to fuel system issues, so an experienced tech should spot it right away. Hope this helps!

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful to know. Since you had it fixed last year, do you remember roughly how much the repair set you back? Also, has everything been running okay since then, or have you noticed any other quirks pop up? I'm taking mine in next week and trying to get an idea of what I might be looking at cost-wise. These diesel issues can get pretty expensive!

Hey again! Glad to help out! Yeah, I just got my ASX back from the mechanic actually, they completely sorted out that rail pressure sensor issue. Cost me 240 Euro, which honestly wasn't as bad as I was expecting for a diesel repair. Since seeing the mechanic, everything's been running like a dream, no more incorrect signals from the rail pressure sensor causing havoc! The fuel economy is back to normal, no more black smoke, and that annoying stalling is completely gone. My mechanic said the pressure sensor was definitely defective and replacing it did the trick. Haven't had a single problem since the fix, which is pretty great. The car's running just like it did when I first got it. I know these diesel repairs can get super pricey, so I was pretty relieved when this turned out to be a fairly straightforward fix. Let me know how you get on with yours next week, hope it's the same issue and nothing more serious! These Mitsubishis are usually pretty solid once you sort out any sensor issues.

Thanks so much for all the info! I actually just got back from the mechanic today and you were spot on, it was the rail pressure sensor causing all the drama. Cost me a bit more than yours at 320 Euro, but honestly, I'm just relieved it's fixed. The mechanic I went to was really decent, took the time to explain everything and even showed me the faulty sensor. The whole job took about 4 hours, and wow, what a difference! Took it for a test drive and it's like driving a completely different car. No more black smoke, stalling, or that annoying diesel smell. Finally feeling good about driving it again without worrying about breaking down. Definitely learned my lesson about getting these things checked out sooner rather than later. Thanks again for sharing your experience, it really helped me feel more confident about getting it sorted! Best decision I've made in a while, getting this fixed. Now I can stop stressing about every little noise the car makes!