Pilot's Black Smoke & Hissing: EGR System Alert

Hey there! I had very similar symptoms with my 2011 Honda CR-V last month. The black smoke, sluggish acceleration, and hissing sounds matched exactly what I experienced. Initially thought it was the EGR too, but turned out the cables on the electric changeover valve were damaged, causing irregular fuel mixture and incomplete combustion. My mechanic found several frayed wires that were causing intermittent electrical signals to the valve. The damaged cables were affecting the entire fuel management system, which explained the black smoke and poor performance. It wasn't a quick fix, took them about 4-5 hours to trace all the affected wiring and replace the damaged sections. While it wasn't the most serious issue I've faced, leaving it unfixed could've led to bigger problems with the fuel injection system. The check engine light was definitely a blessing in disguise here, as it helped catch the problem before any permanent damage occurred. My suggestion: get it checked soon. These symptoms usually don't improve on their own, and delayed repairs often lead to more extensive damage.

Hey, thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful information about the wiring issue. I'm curious, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the repair? Also, has everything been running smoothly since then, or have you noticed any other quirks? I'm still a bit nervous about this repair after my last mechanic experience, but your explanation about the fuel management system makes a lot of sense. Those symptoms do sound exactly like what I'm dealing with on my Pilot right now.

Hey again! Happy to give you the update! The total bill came to 155€ for fixing those damaged cables on the electric changeover valve. And I've got great news, since the repair, my CR-V has been running like a dream! The black smoke completely disappeared, no more hissing sounds, and the engine's got its pep back. The EGR function that was acting up before is now working perfectly. Actually, I just did a long drive this weekend and was really impressed with how smooth everything's running. My fuel economy has even improved a bit, which is a nice bonus! I totally get being nervous after a bad mechanic experience, been there myself! But honestly, this repair was worth every penny. The symptoms you're describing are so similar to what I dealt with, I'd bet you're facing the same issue. Better to get it sorted now before it potentially causes bigger problems down the line. Let me know how it goes if you decide to get it checked out! Always happy to share my experience with fellow Honda owners.

Thanks so much for all the detailed info! I actually bit the bullet and took my Pilot to a different mechanic yesterday. You were spot on, it was an electrical issue, though in my case it was a faulty sensor and some corroded wiring near the fuel injection system. Cost me a bit more, around 280 €, but honestly, it was worth every cent. The mechanic was really thorough and showed me exactly what was wrong. The car's running amazingly now, no more black smoke, hissing's gone, and that sluggish feeling has completely disappeared. The exhaust smell has cleared up too. It's like driving a different vehicle! Really glad I didn't put this off any longer. Those symptoms definitely weren't going to fix themselves, and you were right about catching it early before it caused more damage. Thanks again for encouraging me to get it checked out, sometimes you just need that little push to make the right decision! BTW, they also gave me some great tips about regular maintenance to prevent similar issues in the future. Definitely feeling more confident about my car now!