VW Scirocco Glow Plug Issues, Warning Signs & Fixes

I had a very similar issue with my 2011 VW Golf TDI. As someone who regularly maintains their own car but leaves complex repairs to professionals, this problem caught my attention immediately. The symptoms matched exactly, constant preheating lamp, engine light on, and particularly rough idle during cold start. The fuel efficiency dropped significantly, especially during winter months. Took it to my regular workshop where they diagnosed a faulty glow plug on cylinder 2. The complete repair, including diagnostics and parts, cost me 440€. They also checked the other glow plugs while they were at it, which was reassuring. The repair process took about 3 hours. After fixing it, the cold start performance improved dramatically and the engine light cleared. Fuel efficiency returned to normal within a few tanks. To help further with your case, could you share: Which engine code does your Scirocco have? Are you noticing any smoke from the exhaust? How long does it take for the engine to warm up? When was the last time you had a full service? This information would help determine if your situation is similar and whether there might be related issues to check.

Thanks for sharing those details. My last service was 2 months ago at 13595km, and they did a comprehensive check but found no issues back then. The engine code is CFFE. The exhaust shows some white smoke during cold starts, taking around 8-10 minutes for the engine to reach normal operating temperature. The check engine light started appearing just last week, and the diesel engine performance has gotten notably worse since then. The symptoms and repair costs you mentioned sound very similar to what I am experiencing. Did your workshop mention any preventive measures to avoid future glow plug failures? Also wondering if they recommended replacing all plugs at once?

Since our cars are pretty similar, I can definitely add some relevant info from my experience with the TDI. The white smoke during cold starts was exactly what I noticed too. My workshop actually recommended replacing all glow plugs as a preventive measure since they tend to wear at similar rates. While it increased the initial cost to about 690€, they explained it could prevent future diesel car starting issues and repeated labor costs. The cold start performance issues you describe mirror what I experienced, that 8-10 minute warm-up time is definitely longer than normal. After replacing all glow plugs, my engine combustion improved significantly and warm-up time dropped to about 4-5 minutes. The workshop suggested changing the glow plugs every 100000km or when the first one fails, whichever comes first. They also recommended using high-quality diesel fuel and regular engine oil changes to help maintain glow plug life. One thing to watch for, if you delay the repair, it can lead to increased fuel consumption and potentially damage other engine components due to poor combustion during those cold starts. The engine light staying on is definitely a warning sign that should be addressed soon.

Your car and symptoms sound very similar to mine. My engine code is CFFE too, and I am also seeing that white smoke during cold starts. Based on what you shared about the repair process, I think I will go ahead and have all the glow plugs replaced at once. Makes sense to prevent future issues, even if it costs more upfront. The extended warm-up time and rough idle during cold starts have been really frustrating, and the drop in diesel engine performance is concerning. Your repair experience gives me a good idea of what to expect for costs and timeframe. Will book it in with my workshop next week. The engine light and poor engine combustion are clear signs I should not wait longer. Thanks for confirming my suspicions about the glow plugs and sharing the preventive maintenance advice. Will make sure to follow those recommendations about fuel quality and regular servicing once this is fixed.