Mitsubishi Challenger: Black Smoke & Power Loss Mystery

I had very similar issues with my 2013 Mitsubishi Pajero diesel last year. The symptoms were exactly like yours, black smoke, power loss, and those annoying hissing sounds. Turned out the wiring harness to the boost pressure actuator was damaged, causing inconsistent signals and boost control problems. Had it checked at my local Mitsubishi specialist, they found several wires were corroded and partially broken near the actuator connection. The unstable idle and black smoke were dead giveaways for boost control issues. They had to replace the entire wiring harness section connected to the actuator, plus recalibrate the system. It was a serious job because bad boost control can cause engine damage if left unfixed. The repair took about a day, but it solved all the symptoms completely. My engine's been running smooth since then, no more smoke or power issues. If you're hearing those whistling sounds and getting black smoke, definitely get it checked soon. These symptoms typically don't fix themselves and can lead to bigger problems.

Hey, thanks for sharing your experience! Really helpful to hear from someone who's been through the same thing. Glad you got it sorted with the wiring harness replacement. Just wondering, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole job? And has everything stayed good since the repair, or have you noticed any other issues popping up? Asking 'cause I want to get a ballpark figure before heading to the shop. Cheers!

Hey again! Yeah, I definitely remember the cost, it was 155€ for fixing the wiring harness to the boost pressure actuator. And I'm happy to report that since getting it fixed, my Pajero's been running like a dream! The boost pressure actuator malfunction is completely sorted now, no more black smoke, weird noises, or power issues. I know you were worried about getting ripped off at the shop, but honestly, it was worth every penny. The car's performance is back to normal, and I haven't had a single issue since the repair. I'm actually really glad I got it sorted when I did, these things can get worse if you leave them too long. Quick tip though, make sure whoever works on it knows their way around Mitsubishi diesels. The wiring setup can be a bit tricky, and you want someone who knows what they're doing. Hope this helps with your decision! Let me know how it goes when you get yours fixed.

Thanks heaps for all the info! Actually, I ended up taking it to a Mitsubishi specialist yesterday. You were spot on about the wiring harness, mine was in pretty rough shape too. Cost me a bit more (around 180 €) since they had to replace a few extra bits, but honestly, it was totally worth it. The mechanic showed me the old wiring, it was properly corroded, no wonder the car was acting up! They got it all sorted in about 6 hours, and I'm stoked with the results. No more black smoke, the engine's running smooth as butter, and those annoying whistling noises are gone. Really appreciate you sharing your experience, helped me feel more confident about what needed to be done. Car's running like new now, and I reckon I dodged a bullet by getting it fixed before it caused any serious damage. Thanks again for the help! Cheers!