A new warning light on your dashboard? You don’t find out why it doesn’t turn off… It’s typical, a vehicle is complicated and there are many causes why a light could occur. If your glow plug light comes on while driving your BMW X5, it might suggest several issues. In this post, we will do anything we can to support you see things more clearly. First, we will see how the preheating light on your BMW X5 works, and then the different explanations it lights up when you are driving

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What is the role of my BMW X5 glow plug light?

The main role of the engine glow plug light, which is in most cases symbolized by a yellow coil, is to guarantee that your glow plugs are working properly. In fact, it must light up when you switch on your BMW X5 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 meant to stay or come on while driving with your motor vehicle. But, if it turns on while driving, it may suggest 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 X5?

A glow light that comes on while driving on your BMW X5 or at any other time other than when the engine is started is designed to inform you to a fault other than your spark plugs, we will look at this now. No matter the reason, plug in your car to the diagnostic tool will allow you to properly understand the motive for the light up of your glow light.

My BMW X5 glow light comes on and I’m suffering from a loss of power

The first probability is that you recognize that your glow plug light comes on while driving your BMW X5 and that you also encounter a loss of power. In this case, several problems can describe its presence. Here is a list of the main causes:

  • Problem of EGR valve, in fact, if you go through 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 X5 because it is one of the failures of which it is designed to notify you. Have the status of your valve examined
  • Issue 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 perturbation in the performance of the turbo.
  • Issue in connection with the injection, either an injector that has seized up or the injection pump that is broken by filings or other possible foreign bodies that disrupt its proper performance.
  • Finally, the last problem that could lead to a glow indicator light on your BMW X5 coupled with a loss of power, is that your fuel filter is too dirty, you should feel 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 X5

To finish , we’ll give you the explanations for a glow plug light that comes on on your BMW X5 without you feeling any difference in power or motor vehicle 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 get rid of the problem.
  • You have a false contact somewhere in your electrical circuit, test out the other alternatives first because it is not easy to find it alone, we recommend you to go to your technician.
  • Faulty injection pressure sensor, ECU error

    • If you have any additional questions about the BMW X5, do not hesitate to consult our BMW X5 category.