Seeking Advice on '02 Nissan Primera Diesel Engine Issues: Black Smoke, Jerking Acceleration, and Unusual Noises

Hey there! It seems like your Nissan Primera is acting up quite a bit, eh? I've got a '04 Nissan Almera, so we're pretty much in the same stable. Now, I'll level with you – my car expertise is pretty low, more of a hobbyist than a mechanic. But, I had a similar issue a while back. My car had the same symptoms and it turned out to be a Wastegate valve defect. You might want to have that checked out. Brought it over to my local workshop (name's Mike's, by the way, solid fella). Mike hooked up what he referred to as a “diagnostic tool." After a scan, he diagnosed it was indeed a Wastegate valve issue. I had to fork out a hefty 860 Euro to get it fixed, stung a bit in the pocket, but yeah, that's cars for ya. Now, to get a clearer picture and see if that could be the source of your car troubles, would you mind sharing the model of your diesel engine? The more info you provide, the easier for us to lend a hand.

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Hey! Appreciate you taking the time to help out here. My Primera's diesel engine is actually a YD22 (2.2 liters) model, if that helps at all. Definitely sounds like your experience might be on track with what I'm dealing with, especially that bit about the Wastegate valve. I'll pop by my local mechanic - Benny's the name, pretty trustworthy bloke - and see if he has any of those diagnostic tools to hook up. Just hit the 152261 KM mark on the old girl, still regularly serviced. She's been pretty reliable over the years, but I suppose there's always bumps along the road with older models, eh? Hoping it's not too much of a costly affair - 860 Euro is a bit of a sting. Thanks again!

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Hey there again! Excellent, the YD22 engine model is what I'm familiar with. Actually, mine crossed the 150k KM mark not so long ago, and I had to have the Wastegate valve adjusted after noticing similar symptoms. Now, while Benny's taking a look under the hood, you might also want to ask him to check if there's any loss of pressure in the turbocharger system. Check the tubes for any cracks or holes, really anything that seems a bit off or worn out. This might explain the black smoke and power loss you're experiencing. And yeah, I hear ya on the budget concern. Car repairs can burn a hole in your pocket. But look at it this way, a one-time big expense might save you from several smaller, but frequent, visits to the mechanic down the line. Remember, if the diagnosis comes back with anything close to Wastegate or turbocharger problems, be sure to replace it with a quality part. Cheaping out might just have us chatting here again in the near future, eh? Keen to hear how it turns out. Happy troubleshooting, and may the car gods be with you!

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Cheers to that! Definitely onboard with the idea of avoiding frequent visits to the mechanic. Noted the advice on checking out the turbocharger system and, if necessary, getting a quality replacement for the Wastegate valve or any other part. Benny's is normally pretty good with sourcing quality parts, so fingers crossed that'll help me dodge further headaches. A bit daunted by the task of fixing up the old girl, but I suppose that's just part and parcel of owning an older model, eh? Your advice and kind words, though, they definitely put me at ease a little. Marketing my diesel smoke as just 'vintage charm' was getting old anyhow. Will update once she's got a clean bill of health once more. Stay safe on the roads!

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