A new light on your dashboard? You don’t understand why it doesn’t turn off… It’s normal, a car is complex and there are various factors why a light could come on. In cases where your glow plug light comes on while driving your BMW X3, it may possibly indicate several concerns. On this page, we will do everything we can to support you see things more clearly. First, we will find out how the preheating light on your BMW X3 functions, and then the different reasons it lights up when you are driving

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What is the goal of my BMW X3 glow plug light?

The main purpose 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 properly. In reality, it must light up when you switch on your BMW X3 to tell you that they are heating the intake air in your cylinders and must go out after a few moments when the engine is running. This preheat light is therefore not supposed to stay or come on while driving with your vehicle. Nevertheless, if it comes on while driving, it may reveal different troubles, we will try to describe the most important ones.

What to do if the glow plug light comes on while driving on my BMW X3?

A glow light that comes on while driving on your BMW X3 or at any other time other than when the engine is started is intended to inform you to a problem other than your spark plugs, we will check out this now. In any case, plug in your car to the diagnostic tool will allow you to properly understand the explanation for the light up of your glow light.

My BMW X3 glow light comes on and I’m having a loss of power

The first possibility is that you detect that your glow plug light comes on while driving your BMW X3 and that you also encounter a loss of power. In such a case, several trouble can explain its lightning. Here is a list of the most important factors:

  • Issue of EGR valve, indeed, if you are affected a loss of power, it is possible that your EGR valve is clogged, in this instance, it is obvious that your preheat light comes on while driving on BMW X3 because it is one of the issue of which it is designed to notify you. Have the status of your valve examined
  • Problem linked to the turbo overflow valve, in this situation the ECU can no longer control the turbo intake pressure, which can result in turbo boost and a disturbance in the operation of the turbo.
  • Problem associated with the injection, either an injector that has seized up or the injection pump that is destroyed by filings or other possible foreign bodies that disturb its proper operation.
  • Finally, the last trouble that could lead to a glow indicator light on your BMW X3 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 X3

To conclude, we’ll give you the reasons for a glow plug light that comes on on your BMW X3 without you feeling any difference in power or vehicle behaviour. In most cases, this is an electronic problem:

  • Glow plug relays or fuses to be changed, 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 get rid of the trouble.
  • You have a false contact somewhere in your electrical circuit, test the other solutions first because it is not easy to find it alone, we encourage you to go to your mechanic.
  • Faulty injection pressure sensor, ECU error
  • In the event that you have any further questions about the BMW X3, do not hesitate to consult our BMW X3 category.