Range Rover Spewing Black Smoke & Stalling, Help!

Hey there! I had a somewhat similar nightmare with my 2018 Range Rover Sport. I've got some experience working on cars, but this one had me stumped. Mine was showing almost identical symptoms, the black smoke, stalling, and that annoying jerking during acceleration. After dealing with it for a week, I took it to my regular workshop. Turns out it was a faulty wiring harness that was causing havoc with multiple sensors. The repair set me back about 95 Euro, but it fixed all those issues completely. Before I can give more specific advice though, could you share: Which Range Rover model exactly? Current mileage? When did these symptoms first appear? Any recent work done on the car? This info would help me understand if you're dealing with the same gremlins I had. It's pretty common with Range Rovers to have electrical quirks, but they need to be addressed quickly before they cause bigger problems.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I've got a 2020 Range Rover, and mine's been showing these exact same symptoms for about two weeks now. My odometer's at 194,881 KM, and I just had it serviced last month where they mainly did an oil change and general inspection. That's really interesting about the wiring harness being the culprit in your case. That's actually quite reassuring to hear because I was worried it might be something more serious with the engine itself. The symptoms are literally identical to what you described, and since our vehicles aren't that far apart in model years, I'm hoping it might be the same issue. Did your mechanic mention any particular signs that helped them diagnose the wiring harness problem? Just want to know what to mention when I take it in.

Hey again! Yeah, looking at your mileage and model year, this definitely sounds similar to what I experienced. When my mechanic diagnosed the wiring harness issue, they noticed that the electrical connections were showing inconsistent readings, it was basically sending wrong signals to multiple sensors. You know what's funny? Before they found the actual problem, I was also convinced it was the fuel level sensor like you initially thought! The symptoms can be really misleading with these Range Rovers. My mechanic showed me how the wiring insulation had worn down in some spots, causing all sorts of weird electrical issues that mimicked fuel system problems. Quick tip from my experience, make sure they check the entire wiring path, not just the obvious connection points. In my case, there was some hidden damage behind the engine cover that wasn't immediately visible. And yeah, while mine was fixed for around 95 Euro, prices can vary depending on how much of the harness needs replacing. Just glad I could help point you in the right direction. These Range Rovers are amazing vehicles but they sure can throw some curveballs at us with their electrical systems! Let me know how it goes when you get it checked out.

Thanks so much for the detailed follow-up! That's super helpful about the hidden wiring damage, I'll definitely mention that to my mechanic and ask them to do a thorough check of the entire wiring path. It's actually a relief to know it might just be an electrical issue rather than a major engine problem. I've booked it in for tomorrow morning, and I'll make sure to tell them about your experience with the wiring harness and those inconsistent sensor readings. Even if the repair cost ends up being higher than what you paid, it's still better than dealing with a major engine overhaul! Really appreciate you taking the time to share all this info. It's great to hear from someone who's actually been through the same thing. You've given me a much clearer direction on what to look for. I'll definitely update the forum once I get it sorted out, might help someone else with similar issues down the line!