Honda WRV Diesel: Glow Plug & DPF Troubles Solved!

Hey there! I've got some experience with cars, and I went through something very similar with my 2015 Honda BR-V diesel last year. The symptoms were exactly the same, sluggish starts, black smoke, the whole deal. Took it to my regular workshop and yep, it was a faulty glow plug. They found one completely worn out, and they recommended replacing the whole set while they were at it. Cost me around 560 Euro, but it was worth it, car's been running like a charm since then. Before we dig deeper into potential solutions, How many miles/kilometers on your WR-V? Have you noticed any other warning lights? When was your last service? This info would help me give you more specific advice based on my experience.

Thanks for responding! My WRV has done 131748 KM and just had its service last month. Actually, the check engine light started flashing right after. There's also this weird rattling noise from the engine bay when idling that I forgot to mention in my first post. I really appreciate you sharing your experience about the glow plugs. Did you also notice any rattling before getting them replaced? And how long did the repair take? Just trying to figure out if I should plan for a longer garage visit.

Hey again! Thanks for the follow-up. Yeah, I totally remember that rattling noise you're talking about, had the exact same thing with my BR-V. Actually, that rattling was what really got me worried in the first place! The repair took about 4-5 hours at my workshop. But honestly, you might want to plan for a full day because they'll probably need to run some diagnostic tests first. In my case, they found that the faulty glow plug had actually started breaking apart, which was causing that rattling sound at idle. Since you mentioned your check engine light came on right after the service, I'd be a bit suspicious. When I had my glow plugs replaced, the mechanic showed me how one of them had completely deteriorated and was basically falling apart. Could be that something got knocked loose during your service? You know what's interesting, your symptoms sound even more similar to mine now that you've mentioned the mileage. My issues started around the 130,000 km mark too. Just make sure you get it checked soon because in my case, the damaged glow plug started affecting the fuel injection timing, which could've led to bigger problems. Have you noticed if the rattling gets worse when the engine's cold? That was another telltale sign in my case.

Thanks for all that detailed info! You know, it's actually really reassuring to hear your BR-V had such similar issues, especially around the same mileage. And yes, the rattling is definitely worse when the engine's cold, exactly like you described! I think I'll go ahead and get those glow plugs checked out first thing next week. You've saved me a lot of worry about what it could be. I'll make sure to block out a full day like you suggested, just to be on the safe side. It's better to get it sorted now before it causes any bigger problems with the fuel injection system. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, knowing that you fixed the same issue and your car's running great now makes me feel much more confident about getting this sorted. I'll update the group once I get it checked out. Thanks again for all the help!