Black Smoke & Stalling: Outlander Diesel Troubles

Hey there, I had very similar issues with my 2013 Mitsubishi ASX Diesel. After changing the fuel filter myself, I got error codes and similar symptoms, black smoke, rough idle, and stalling. Took it to my trusted mechanic, and turns out there was air in the fuel lines that needed proper bleeding. The fuel system in these diesels is quite sensitive. They had to run a full diagnostic, bleed the entire fuel system, and reset the ECU. The mechanic also checked the fuel pressure regulator while at it, good thing because it was actually starting to fail. The whole job wasn't too complicated, but it needed proper equipment to get it done right. My car's been running smooth since then, no more black smoke or stalling. If you're in this situation, I'd definitely recommend getting it checked by a specialist who knows Mitsubishi diesels. These symptoms shouldn't be ignored as they can lead to bigger fuel system problems if left unchecked. Good luck sorting it out!

Hey, thanks so much for sharing your experience! That sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with. Just curious, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole fix? And has everything been working fine since then, or have you had any other fuel system issues pop up?

Hey again! Happy to help out! Yeah, after getting my ASX fixed, it's been running like a dream. The fuel pressure regulator issue was definitely the culprit, and I'm glad I got it sorted. The total came to 45€ just for fixing the error entry after the fuel filter change. Pretty reasonable, if you ask me! Haven't had a single fuel system issue since then, no more black smoke, stalling, or any of that drama. My mechanic really knew what he was doing with the Mitsubishi system. It's been about 18 months now, and the car's still running smooth as butter. Just keep in mind that these diesel engines can be a bit finicky with their fuel systems, but once you get them properly sorted, they're solid. If you're still looking for a mechanic recommendation, I'd be happy to share mine, they really know their stuff when it comes to Mitsubishis. Let me know how it goes with yours!

Thanks a lot for all the info! I actually took your advice and got it sorted yesterday. Found a Mitsubishi specialist nearby and they diagnosed the same issue, fuel pressure regulator and some air in the lines. Cost me a bit more, around 580 € including parts and labor, but totally worth it! The difference is like night and day. No more black smoke, engine's running smooth, and that awful stalling is gone. The mechanic also gave me some tips about maintaining the fuel system, which was super helpful. They even showed me what the old regulator looked like, pretty beaten up! Really glad I didn't put this off any longer. And you were right about these diesel engines being sensitive, learned that lesson the hard way! The new mechanic seems really knowledgeable, so I think I'll stick with them for future services. Thanks again for sharing your experience, really helped me make the decision to get it fixed properly!