Dodge Avenger Glow Plug Warning Signs & Solutions

I had a similar issue with my 2012 Dodge Journey diesel last winter. Having some experience with diesel engines, I knew glow plug problems could affect fuel efficiency and cause rough idle. The symptoms matched exactly what you describe, persistent preheat indicator, check engine light, and really unstable idle, especially during cold starts. After checking basic things like connections and fuses, I took it to a workshop where they diagnosed a failed glow plug in cylinder 2. The total repair came to 440€, including diagnosis, parts, and labor. They replaced the faulty glow plug and cleared the error codes. The rough idle disappeared immediately and the engine light went off. To provide more specific advice for your case, could you share: Current mileage on your Avenger, How long has the check engine light been on, Does the rough idle improve once the engine warms up, Any other warning lights or unusual behavior, Have you had the error codes read These details would help determine if your situation is similar and if you might be looking at the same repair path. The issue is fairly common in these engines, and while not catastrophic, it should be addressed soon to prevent poor engine combustion from causing additional problems.

Currently at 52552 KM after the latest service. The rough idle has gotten worse during cold starts over the past week. Scan results show P0671 code which points to cylinder 1 glow plug circuit. The engine seems to stabilize somewhat after warming up, but the check engine light stays on. Had a mechanic verify with a multimeter, definitely getting glow plug failure symptoms. Planning to replace all 4 glow plugs since they likely have similar wear. Parts already ordered, booked for repair next week. Thanks for sharing your repair cost details. Hoping my fix will be straightforward like yours. Will update once resolved.

Thanks for those details. Your P0671 code matches what I saw on my Journey when I had the glow plug issue. Good call on replacing all glow plugs at once, that's exactly what I wish I had done initially. A month after my single glow plug replacement, I ended up back at the shop with similar symptoms and had to replace two more. The total cost for the second visit was another 380€. Would have saved money doing all of them together. The rough idle during cold starts is a classic sign of glow plug failure in these diesel cars. Your description of the engine stabilizing after warm-up mirrors my experience exactly. The check engine light staying on is the system protecting itself from potential damage. Since you mentioned the KM count, make sure they check the glow plug control module while they have everything apart. In my case, the failing glow plugs had caused some minor damage to the control unit, but it was still functional enough to not need replacement. Let us know how the repair goes, always helpful to build up our collective knowledge about these diesel engine issues.

The scan results have been really helpful to confirm what I initially suspected. Code P0671 definitely points to a glow plug circuit issue in cylinder 1, which explains all the cold start problems my diesel car has been having. Having the mechanic verify with the multimeter was a smart move before ordering parts. Makes total sense to replace all 4 glow plugs while the work is being done. The engine combustion should improve significantly once they are all new. My rough idle is most noticeable during cold starts but does get a bit better after warm-up. Still concerned about continuing to drive with the check engine light on, so glad the repair is scheduled for next week. Based on shared repair experiences here, I feel better about my decision to do all glow plugs at once rather than just replacing the faulty one. Should help prevent repeat shop visits. Looking forward to having this sorted and will post an update after the work is done to help others who might face similar issues with their diesel engines.