Seeking Advice on Troubleshooting Diesel Kia Soul '09: Issues with Glow Plug, Black Exhaust Smoke, and DPF Regeneration Failure

Hey there! I had a pretty similar issue with my '07 Kia Spectra, close relative of your Soul. I'd say I have some experience with car troubles, but I'm no mechanic, that's for sure. A telltale sign of a dodgy glow plug was the persistent pre-glow light, poor fuel economy, and the DPF regeneration recurring fault. The beast just didn't want to start in the cold, much like your case. I took it to my local workshop. They did a full diagnosis, checked each glow plug individually and found one to be defective due to wear. Ended up swapping the faulty glow plug, which wasn't a massive deal but cost me a fair 560€. But yeah, it's all running smooth now, no more smoke or chaos with the glow light. Out of curiosity, have you had a recent ECU scan? What were the error codes if so? I might be able to give a bit more guidance if you share that. Cheers!

Hey! Thanks for that swift response, really appreciate your insights. Your experience sounds eerily similar to mine, right down to the persistent glow light and poor fuel economy. Got my Soul checked at a local garage just last week and they did mention a possibly defective glow plug, much like in your case. Price tag: nearly 500 bucks. Almost choked on my coffee hearing that, but if it gets my baby running smooth again, I guess I gotta bite the bullet. I did get an ECU scan around the same time and couple of codes popped up but not exactly sure what they mean. One was P0671 and the other P0651, any insight on these? FYI, the last service was at 94029 KM, fared pretty well since then, up until this glow plug debacle kicked in. Bit of a pain, isn't it? Anyway, thanks again and looking forward to hearing from you. Cheers!

Hey, no problem, glad I could help chuck some light on it! Yeah, the cost of fixing is a pain. I almost had a heart attack, myself. But trust me, it's worth it if it sorts out the problem. These glitches just drain your fuel like crazy and can potentially lead to more expensive repairs down the line. Definitely better safe than sorry, right? Now, about those codes you got. P0671 basically refers to a cylinder 1 glow plug circuit and highlights a potential issue with the glow plug itself, which is pretty well in line with your garage's diagnosis. The other one, P0651, refers to a sensor reference voltage "B" circuit open. This might potentially point to an issue with the ECU, wiring, or another related sensor. Considering the glow plug issue and these codes, I reckon it'd be wise to get a thorough inspection done. Possibly, check the wiring associated with the glow plug and ECU, apart from replacing that glow plug. I know it's a hassle, but hopefully, your Soul can ride out all these bumps soon and get back to its smooth, reliable self. Keep me posted, and best of luck! Cheers!

Hey, thanks again for all your help - and yeah, you're right for sure, better safe than sorry. I really appreciate your insight on those error codes as well. P0671 does make sense considering the glow plug issue. The P0651 threw me for a loop though – didn't expect anything related to the ECU or wiring. I'll definitely have them checked in addition to replacing the faulty glow plug. Sounds like there might be light at the end of this tunnel! You've been incredibly helpful. I’ll make sure to keep you posted on any updates and hopefully, in a bit, I'll be writing about how my Soul is back from the brink and purring along just fine. Cheers, and thanks a bundle! All the best!