A new warning light on your dashboard? You don’t understand why it doesn’t shut off… It’s typical, an auto is complicated and there are multiple factors why a light might occur. In the event that your glow plug light comes on while driving your BMW i3, it may signify different things. In this article, we will do anything we can to help you see things more clearly. First, we will find out how the preheating light on your BMW i3 works, and then the different motives it lights up when you are driving

glow-plug-light-bmw-i3

What is the purpose of my BMW i3 glow plug light?

The main goal of the engine glow plug light, which is most of the time represented by a yellow coil, is to assure that your glow plugs are working correctly. Indeed, it must light up when you switch on your BMW i3 to tell you that they are heating the intake air in your cylinders and must go out after a few minutes when the engine is running. This preheat light is therefore not supposed to stay or come on while driving with your automobile. Nevertheless, if it turns on while driving, it may show several troubles, we will try to detail the main ones.

What to do if the glow plug light comes on while driving on my BMW i3?

A glow light that comes on while driving on your BMW i3 or at any other time other than when the engine is started is meant to warn you to a fault other than your spark plugs, we will look at this now. No matter the reason, connecting your vehicle to the diagnostic tool will allow you to precisely interpret the motive for the light up of your glow light.

My BMW i3 glow light comes on and I’m encountering a loss of power

The first situation is that you recognize that your glow plug light comes on while driving your BMW i3 and that you also knowledge a loss of power. In this case, different trouble can demonstrate its presence. Here is a list of the main factors:

  • Trouble of EGR valve, indeed, if you are affected a loss of power, it is possible that your EGR valve is blocked, in such a case, it is logical that your preheat light comes on while driving on BMW i3 because it is one of the problem of which it is expected to warn you. Have the status of your valve tested
  • Issue associated with the turbo overflow valve, in this situation the ECU can no longer manage the turbo intake pressure, which can result in turbo boost and a perturbation in the performance of the turbo.
  • Issue related to the injection, either an injector that has seized up or the injection pump that is malfunctioned by filings or other possible foreign bodies that affect its proper performance.
  • Finally, the last trouble that could lead to a glow indicator light on your BMW i3 coupled with a loss of power, is that your fuel filter is too dirty, you should encounter jerks because of a bad fuel flow in the engine.

My glow plug light comes on or is flashing but no difference on the performance of my BMW i3

To conclude, we’ll give you the motives for a glow plug light that comes on on your BMW i3 without you feeling any difference in power or automobile behaviour. In most cases, this is an electronic fault:

  • Glow plug relays or fuses to be swapped out, test and change if necessary.
  • A contactor/potentiometer on one of your pedals (brake, accelerator or clutch) has failed, often a simple de-seizure will be enough to solve the trouble.
  • You have a false contact somewhere in your electrical circuit, check the other alternatives first because it is not easy to find it alone, we advise you to go to your mechanic.
  • Faulty injection pressure sensor, ECU error
  • If perhaps you have any further questions about the BMW i3, do not hesitate to consult our BMW i3 category.