Outlander Diesel: Black Smoke & Stalling Mystery

Hey there, I had nearly identical issues with my 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Diesel last year. The symptoms you're describing match exactly what I experienced, the unusual stalling, black smoke, and that annoying jerking at idle. Took it to my mechanic and turns out it was indeed the idle control valve connector, the cable was worn out and the plug was corroded. They had to replace both the cable and clean the entire idle control valve assembly. It wasn't a major repair job, but it definitely needed immediate attention to prevent any potential damage to other engine components. The fix was pretty straightforward once they identified the issue, took about half a day at the garage. The car's been running smoothly since then, no more stalling or black smoke issues. If you're in this situation, I'd definitely recommend getting it checked soon. These symptoms won't fix themselves and could lead to bigger problems if left unattended. Make sure to find a mechanic who specializes in Mitsubishi engines, it makes a difference.

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful to know it was the idle control valve in your case. Mine seems to be showing the exact same symptoms. I'm planning to get it checked this week. Just curious, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the repair? And has everything been running smoothly since then, or have you noticed any other issues pop up?

Hey again! Glad I could help! Yeah, I remember exactly what I paid because I just had it fixed a few months ago, it was 155€ to sort out the cable and plug on the idle control valve. Honestly, it was worth every penny because the car's been running like a dream since then. Since you asked, nope, haven't had a single issue pop up after the repair. All that annoying stalling and jerking completely disappeared once they fixed the faulty idle control. It's like having a different car now! The black smoke issues cleared up right away too. Just make sure you get someone who knows what they're doing with Mitsubishis. The mechanic I went to spotted the problem straight away because they'd seen it before on other models. I reckon you'll have the same positive outcome since your symptoms are so similar to what I experienced. Good luck with the repair! Let us know how it goes!

Thanks a lot for all the details! I actually just got back from the mechanic today. You were spot on, it was the idle control valve causing all the drama. Found a Mitsubishi specialist just outside town who knew exactly what to look for. Cost me a bit more than yours though, around 200€ because they had to replace some additional worn-out parts they discovered while fixing the main issue. But honestly, it was totally worth it! Took my car for a test drive after the repair, and what a difference! No more black smoke, jerking, or unusual shutoffs. It's running super smooth now. Really appreciate everyone's help here. Sometimes it's just good to hear from others who've been through the same thing before spending money on repairs. Saved me from stressing too much about it! And now I've got a reliable mechanic for future reference too. Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction! Case closed!