Seeking Advice on Dealing with Black Exhaust, Engine Light, Power Drop, and Other Issues in 2014 Nissan NV Diesel

Hey, it sounds like you're dealing with a DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) issue here. I had a related problem on my 2012 Nissan Navara; same brand, similar model, just a tad older. By no means am I an auto mechanic; I only have some experience with cars but this was an issue I faced and ended up having to shell out €1325 to fix it. I took it to a workshop and it turned out that my DPF was clogged. I initially thought it was the boost pressure sensor too, but the mechanic clarified. After the mechanic cleaned the DPF, the black exhaust fumes lessened, the engine light went off, and the acceleration became smoother. Even the fuel economy improved. Although, just a question if you don't mind. Do you do a lot of short trips or city driving? These tend to clog up the DPF due to insufficient heat generation to burn off the particulates. Details like this can help figure out better solutions. Hope this helps out!

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Hey, Thanks for that detailed response! Really appreciate it. Interestingly, I mostly use my NV for city commute and short trips. I hadn't ever thought they could be contributing to the issue though. Frankly, I'd feel relieved if it was a clogged DPF rather than a faulty boost pressure sensor, because I've heard replacing the latter can be pretty expensive. By the way, my car's clocked 124687 km since its last service, if that helps. I reckon it might be time to pay my mechanic a visit real soon. Cheers!

(Translated from German)

Hey, no problem at all! Your usage pattern may indeed be causing the DPF to block up. Since you drive mostly short trips in the city, the exhaust system doesn't reach the necessary temperature to burn off excess soot in the DPF, which ends up clogging it. As for the kilometres you've clocked since your last service, it might definitely be a good idea to get your NV serviced and bring this issue up at the same time. When I faced this with my Nissan, it was around 150k km, so in your case, it actually sounds plausible. In my experience, cleaning the DPF wasn't painless for the wallet but cheaper than replacing a boost pressure sensor. And on top of that, it significantly improved the vehicle's overall performance. The black smoke reduced, got rid of the strong exhaust smell and the fuel economy got better. It was a worthwhile investment! Anyway, remember to check for any warnings on your dashboard and not to ignore them. Then hopefully, you can avoid dealing with more severe (and expensive) issues down the line. Give us all an update after checking it with your mechanic. Safe driving and fingers crossed it's just a blocked DPF! Cheers!

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Hey, I can't thank you enough! Your prompt replies have eased my worries a bit. Didn't know that city drives and short trips could lead to the DPF clogging. That's an eye-opener! I've already called my mechanic and booked an appointment for the day after tomorrow. Going to ask him to primarily check the DPF and will certainly not overlook any dashboard warnings hereafter. Based on your similar experience, I feel there's a fair chance it might be just the same issue with my Nissan. I'll keep my fingers crossed too! Will give an update post my mechanic's visit. Thanks again! Safe driving to you too. Cheers!

(Translated from German)