Diesel WRV: Black Smoke & Glow Plug Warning Signs

Hey there! I had very similar issues with my 2016 Honda CR-V diesel last year. The symptoms you're describing match exactly what I experienced, slow cold starts, black smoke, and that annoying pre-glow light staying on. Took it to my garage and it turned out two glow plugs were completely worn out, causing incomplete combustion. This explained the black smoke and starting issues. The constant pre-glow light was actually the system trying to compensate for the failing plugs. The fix involved replacing all glow plugs (it's best to do them all at once) and resetting the ECU. It wasn't a super serious issue, but leaving it unfixed could've led to bigger problems with the DPF system because of the incomplete combustion. My car had around 90k km when this happened. These parts do wear out eventually, so your mileage suggests it's about that time. I'd recommend getting it checked soon, the longer you wait, the more strain it puts on other components. Hope this helps!

Thanks for sharing your experience! This is really helpful as I'm dealing with the exact same symptoms. It's good to know it wasn't anything catastrophic in your case. Quick question, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the full repair? Also, has everything been running smoothly since the fix, or have you noticed any other issues pop up? I'm planning to get mine looked at this week and it'd be great to have a ballpark figure in mind. Thanks again!

Hey again! Happy to help with an update! Yeah, I got my Honda sorted and everything's been running like a dream since then. The total bill came to 560€, this covered replacing all the glow plugs and fixing that pesky relay. I know it might sound a bit steep, but honestly, it was worth every penny considering how much better the car runs now. Since getting it fixed six months ago, it's been perfect, no more black smoke, starts up right away even on cold mornings, and that annoying pre-glow light finally stopped being a constant companion on my dashboard! The DPF's working properly too, which is a huge relief. Trust me, getting it sorted sooner rather than later is the way to go. I noticed a massive difference in how the engine runs, and my fuel consumption's even improved a bit. Plus, it's way better for your engine in the long run. Hope this helps with your planning! Let us know how you get on with yours, always good to hear how these things work out for others with similar issues.

Thank you so much for all the detailed info! Just wanted to update you, I got my car fixed yesterday, and you were spot on! Took it to a new mechanic who diagnosed it right away. Three glow plugs were shot, and the relay needed replacing too. Bill came to about 600€, pretty close to what you paid. What a relief to have it sorted! Started it up this morning and wow, what a difference! No more endless cranking, no black smoke, and that stubborn pre-glow light is finally off. Engine's purring like new again. Feels like I've got a different car! The mechanic was great too, showed me the old parts and explained everything clearly. Definitely keeping him as my go-to guy from now on. Really appreciate everyone's help here. Sometimes you just need that push to get things checked out, and your experiences made me feel more confident about getting it sorted. Thanks again!