Suzuki Diesel: Glow Plug Issues & Smoke Warning Signs

Had a similar issue with my 2013 Suzuki Swift diesel last winter. Have some experience with diesel engine maintenance, mainly through dealing with my own repairs over the years. The symptoms you describe match exactly what I encountered, continuous preheating lamp, engine light on, and smoke under acceleration. The control unit was receiving incorrect signals due to a faulty connection. The workshop found that the cable connecting to the glow plug control unit had worn through, causing intermittent contact. The fix involved replacing the damaged wiring and checking all glow plug connections. Total repair cost was 95€ including diagnostic time. Since the repair, the heating element and glow plug system have worked perfectly, with no more warning lights or smoking issues. Before suggesting specific fixes, could you share: Current mileage on your vehicle, How long has the problem been occurring, Are there any starting issues, especially in cold weather, Does the vehicle stalling occur at any point This information would help determine if your issue is identical to what I experienced or if there might be other factors involved. Would recommend having a proper diagnostic test done, as similar symptoms can sometimes point to different underlying issues in the glow plug system.

Last service was at 173000 KM, about 2 weeks ago. My vehicle is currently experiencing engine misfire symptoms along with the issues mentioned. The engine stalling occurs particularly when cold, and the smoke has a distinct blue-gray color during acceleration. The glow plug warning started right after the last service, which makes me wonder if something was disturbed during maintenance. Yesterday I noticed the heating element might be consuming more power than usual, as the battery seems to drain faster. The engine light started flashing intermittently this morning, adding to my concerns. After reading your experience, I will definitely get the wiring checked first before replacing any components.

Thanks for providing those additional details. The symptoms you describe after the service, especially the engine misfire and cold start issues, actually point to a potentially more complex problem than what I initially encountered with my Swift. The blue-gray smoke during acceleration, combined with engine stalling and battery drain, suggests the problem might extend beyond just the glow control unit. In my case, once I had similar additional symptoms develop, it turned out the workshop found damaged injector wiring along with the glow plug issues. The diagnostic test revealed that a wiring loom had been accidentally pinched during the previous service, affecting both the glow plug system and injector timing. The total repair ended up around 280€, which included: Full system diagnostic, Wiring repair, Injector timing adjustment, Glow plug resistance testing Since your issues started after the recent service, would strongly recommend returning to the same workshop, as they should address any service-related complications at reduced or no cost. The engine misfire symptoms combined with the flashing check engine light definitely warrant immediate attention to prevent potential engine damage. Have you noticed any change in fuel consumption since these issues began? This information could help pinpoint whether the injectors are also affected, similar to what I experienced.

Thanks for the detailed information about the injector wiring possibility. The fuel consumption has definitely increased, using about 20% more fuel than usual. Getting worse mileage especially during cold start situations when the engine seems to struggle the most. Will contact the workshop tomorrow. Given that these issues started right after their service, they should at least inspect it under warranty. The smoking during acceleration and engine misfire are getting more noticeable, and I want to avoid any serious engine damage. The diesel engine seems to run particularly rough for the first 5-10 minutes after starting. The heating element and glow plug system are clearly not functioning properly, causing poor combustion. Will ask them to specifically check the wiring loom area you mentioned, since the symptoms match so closely. Appreciate the heads up about checking both the glow plug system and injectors together. Better to have them diagnose the full system rather than replacing parts one at a time. Will update once I know the actual cause.