Glow Plug Light (Diesel) on a Acura NSX
This is usually informational. Address it at your convenience.
What the Glow Plug Light (Diesel) Means on a Acura NSX
The glow-plug light on your diesel Acura NSX is your cue to wait a couple of seconds before starting in cold weather. A flashing light after the engine is running, however, indicates a fault the ECU wants checked.
How Urgent Is the Glow Plug Light (Diesel)?
In terms of priority, treat this as a low concern on your Acura NSX. The single most useful thing you can observe is whether the Glow Plug Light (Diesel) is steady or blinking: a steady light generally allows a careful drive to a safe location or a workshop, whereas a flashing light signals an active fault that can cause damage if you continue. Pay attention to changes in how the Acura NSX drives, sounds, or smells, since those symptoms sharpen the diagnosis considerably.
Common Symptoms Alongside the Glow Plug Light (Diesel)
Alongside the Glow Plug Light (Diesel), Acura NSX owners commonly report a handful of related signs. Some are obvious, others easy to miss until you pay attention. Keeping a short mental (or written) log of what the Acura NSX does when the light is on gives whoever performs the repair a huge head start and can save you money on diagnostic time.
- Light on briefly at cold start (normal)
- Flashing light after warm-up (fault)
- Hard starting when cold
- Rough running or white smoke on cold mornings
What Causes the Glow Plug Light (Diesel) to Come On?
There is rarely a single universal reason the Glow Plug Light (Diesel) appears on a Acura NSX; instead there is a shortlist of usual suspects. Root causes range from simple, inexpensive items to genuine component failures, which is why a proper diagnosis always beats guessing. Understanding the common triggers on the Acura NSX helps you have a more informed conversation with your mechanic and avoid paying for parts you do not need.
- Normal pre-heat cycle (steady, brief)
- One or more failed glow plugs
- Glow plug relay fault
- Crankshaft/camshaft sensor issue
- Related engine management fault
How to Fix the Glow Plug Light (Diesel) on a Acura NSX
The right way to clear the Glow Plug Light (Diesel) on a Acura NSX is to fix the underlying cause, not just reset the symbol. Work through the steps below in order — they move from the simplest checks any driver can do to the diagnostic work best left to a scan tool. Following this sequence prevents the classic mistake of replacing expensive parts before ruling out the cheap, common problems first.
- At cold start, wait for the light to go out before cranking
- If it flashes, scan for glow-plug and engine codes
- Test each glow plug for resistance/continuity
- Replace failed plugs (ideally as a set) and check the relay
- Clear codes and confirm easy cold starts
Is It Safe to Drive With the Glow Plug Light (Diesel) On?
Whether it is safe to keep driving your Acura NSX with the Glow Plug Light (Diesel) on comes down to urgency (low) and behaviour. As a rule, if the light is red or flashing, or the Acura NSX is running poorly, stop somewhere safe and arrange help rather than pushing on. If the light is amber and the car drives normally, you generally have time to reach a workshop — but 'have time' is not the same as 'ignore it', so book a check promptly.
Diagnostic Trouble Codes Linked to the Glow Plug Light (Diesel)
If you scan a Acura NSX showing this light, these are the OBD-II trouble codes most commonly associated with it. The code you actually retrieve is what pinpoints the repair.
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
P0335 |
Crankshaft Position Sensor Circuit The crankshaft position sensor signal is faulty, which can cause stalling or a no-start condition. |
Professional Mechanic Tips
Hard cold starts plus a flashing glow-plug light on a diesel Acura NSX usually means one or more plugs have failed — replace them as a set for even starting.
Do not ignore a flashing glow light; on many diesels it doubles as a general engine fault warning, so scan it rather than guessing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Glow Plug Light (Diesel) on in my Acura NSX?
On a Acura NSX, the Glow Plug Light (Diesel) comes on because a monitored value crossed a threshold the car considers abnormal. It could be a simple, inexpensive cause or a genuine fault — the only way to be sure is to scan the vehicle and interpret the codes rather than guess from the symbol alone.
Can I keep driving with the Glow Plug Light (Diesel) on?
For a Acura NSX, a steady amber Glow Plug Light (Diesel) with normal driving generally allows a careful trip to a garage. A red or flashing light, or any change in performance, means you should stop and avoid further driving until the fault is identified.
How much does it cost to fix the Glow Plug Light (Diesel) on a Acura NSX?
There is no single price for the Glow Plug Light (Diesel) on a Acura NSX; it ranges from a no-cost adjustment to a component replacement. The honest way to control cost is to diagnose the exact code before authorising any repair, so you only pay to fix what is actually wrong.
Will the Glow Plug Light (Diesel) reset itself on a Acura NSX?
If the trigger was temporary, a Acura NSX may turn the Glow Plug Light (Diesel) off automatically after a few drive cycles. If it remains lit, the vehicle is telling you the fault is still present, and the symbol will only go out for good once the cause is fixed.