Pajero EGR Drama: Engine Cuts Out & Heavy Exhaust Issues

Hey there! I had almost the exact same issue with my 2011 Mitsubishi Montero (basically Pajero's cousin). Same symptoms, rough idle, power loss, CEL light, the works. Turned out to be a stuck EGR valve indeed. Took it to my trusted mechanic who diagnosed it quickly. Had it replaced and cleaned the whole EGR system. Cost me around 355€ total, but it was worth it, car runs like new now. What's your mileage and have you scanned for error codes? That would help confirm if we're dealing with the same problem. Also, when did these symptoms start showing up? Let me know these details and I can share more about what to expect during the repair process.

Thanks for the info Mike! Mine's at 104969 KM and I just had it serviced last month. Started noticing these issues about a week ago. Haven't scanned for codes yet but planning to do that tomorrow at my local mechanic. Your experience definitely sounds similar to what I'm dealing with. Good to know it was fixable and the cost seems reasonable. Did your mechanic mention how long the repair took? Really hoping it's just the EGR valve and nothing more serious. Thanks for the help!

Hey again! Yeah, absolutely! In my case, the actual repair wasn't too time-consuming, my mechanic had my Montero ready in about 3-4 hours. But just a heads-up, depending on how gunked up your EGR system is, it might take longer. Mine was pretty clogged since I was running mostly short trips around town. You know what's funny? My issues also started right after a regular service. My mechanic said sometimes when they clean certain parts during service, it can actually dislodge some carbon deposits that end up causing the EGR valve to stick. That's probably what happened in your case too, given the timing. 104k km isn't bad at all, mine was around 125k when this happened. Just make sure they do a proper cleaning of the entire EGR system while they're at it. My mechanic also recommended using a good fuel additive every few months to help prevent future buildup. Quick tip: if they confirm it's the EGR, ask them to check the EGR cooler too. Sometimes they can get clogged up as well. Better to check everything while they're in there. Keep us posted on what the scan shows! Cheers, Mike

Thanks Mike, you've been super helpful! Really appreciate all the detailed info. The timing thing with the service makes total sense, that's probably exactly what happened. I'll definitely get them to check the EGR cooler too while they're at it, good thinking! And thanks for the heads up about the fuel additive, I'll ask about that as well. I'll update the thread tomorrow after getting those codes scanned. Feeling much more confident about handling this now, especially knowing it's likely a straightforward fix. Here's hoping mine will also be back on the road in a few hours like yours was! Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience. Really helped put my mind at ease! Cheers!