Seeking Advice on 2013 Kia Soul Diesel Issues: Black Smoke, Declining Power, Strange Noises and Check Engine Light

Hey there, I had a kind of similar issue with my own 2011 Kia Sorento Diesel a while back - my car smarts aren't top notch, but I reckon I've got some experience in this area. In my case, I noticed a decrease in power and the check engine light was on too. After several trips to my trusty workshop and multiple inspections, we discovered that the wiring harness to my boost pressure actuator was damaged. It set me back about 155€, but after the fix, my Kia was back to its old self again. By any chance, do you know any technical details about your car, like the engine code or specific model variant? This could help identify if your issue's the same as what I had. Let me know, may be able to offer more help based on that.

Hey, thanks for the response. It's good to hear from someone who faced something similar. Honestly, I'm not that savvy with the technical details of the engine. From what I know, it's a 1.6 L engine. The service center told me the model is a CRDi VGT variant but didn't mention anything about the engine code. My last service was done at 181002KM. They didn't fix the issue back then but it's a lot worse now. I'm planning to take it back to the workshop again this weekend. I'm just gathering as much information as I can to avoid extra hassle. Let's see what comes out of that!

No worries! I totally get the stress - car issues are a proper pain. Ok, jumping in with your additional info, I'd say it's quite possible the troubles you're having are related to the boost pressure control just like in my case. Your workshop should do a smoke test to check for any leaks. They should also inspect the related wiring harness and Electromechanical Boost Pressure Control Valve – It was a broken wire for me, but it could be a number of things. Anything from air leaks in the intake system to something wrong with your turbocharger could cause the symptoms you're experiencing. You can ask your mechanic about this, they should be able to run a diagnostic. A heads up though, the workshop might want to swap out a few parts or even the whole turbo. I’d say push back a bit before they dive into the pricey bits - ask if a repair to existing parts is possible first. Overall, keen to hear how you get on. I’m hopeful the fault is minor and your Kia Soul is back to tip-top shape in no time. Don’t hesitate to drop any further queries - always here to lend an ear!

Hey! I can't thank you enough for sharing your experience and insights. It's really helpful. I agree with you on not rushing to replace expensive parts without a thorough check—experience tells me those could turn out unnecessary sometimes. Definitely, I'll ask my mechanic to perform a smoke test and check the wiring harness and Electromechanical Boost Pressure Control Valve. He'd better be prepared for an avalanche of my questions, haha. Finger crossed; the problem isn't something major. I'll absolutely keep you posted with any updates! Thanks again for your advice and your offer to help. You're a lifeline!