Alfa Brera Glow Plug Warning Signals Engine Trouble

As someone with some experience working on diesel engines, I had a very similar issue with my 2006 Alfa 159 JTD. The cold start performance was terrible and the check engine light came on alongside the glow plug warning. Initially, I checked the basic stuff, battery voltage and connections. But after taking it to my regular workshop, they diagnosed a faulty glow plug in cylinder 2 that was causing poor engine combustion. They also found that the glow plug control module had minor damage due to the faulty plug. The total repair came to 440 Euro, which included: Replacing all glow plugs as a set, New control module, Diagnostic reset, Labor costs The fuel efficiency improved significantly after the repair, and the cold start issues disappeared completely. Before proceeding with repairs, it would be helpful to know: What error codes is your engine management showing? Are you experiencing any starting problems, especially during cold weather? Has your fuel consumption increased recently? What is your current mileage? This information would help determine if your situation is similar to what I experienced with my 159.

Just had my latest service at 108341 KM. Thanks for sharing your experience. The error codes show P0201 and P0380. Cold starts are definitely an issue, takes several attempts to get the diesel engine running properly on cold mornings. Fuel efficiency has dropped by about 15% in the last month. The workshop scan showed all four glow plugs are failing, which explains the poor engine combustion and rough idle. Will book it in next week to get the full set replaced along with a control module check since mine is showing similar symptoms to what you described.

Yeah, that error code combination definitely points to glow plug failure, just like what I dealt with on my 159. The P0380 error specifically relates to the glow plug circuit, while P0201 can indicate fuel delivery issues, which makes sense given your cold start problems. The rough idle and poor fuel economy you mentioned mirror my experience exactly. My diesel engine was struggling with combustion efficiency, especially during cold starts. Getting all four glow plugs replaced at once was definitely the right call, it saved me from having to go back multiple times as they failed one by one. Since your symptoms are nearly identical to what I faced, I recommend having them check the control module while they are at it. In my case, the faulty glow plugs had caused some damage to the module, and replacing both components together solved the issue completely. The engine light cleared up right away and the cold starts became much smoother. Keep in mind that poor engine combustion from failed glow plugs can potentially cause other issues if left unchecked for too long. After my repair, both fuel economy and overall engine performance returned to normal within a few tank fills.

Thanks for the detailed response. I just called the workshop and they quoted 520 Euro for replacing all glow plugs, checking the control module, and doing a full diagnostic reset. A bit more than your repair cost but they mentioned prices have gone up lately for these parts. My diesel engine has been showing all the classic signs you described, the rough idle, engine misfire symptoms and poor fuel efficiency are exactly the same. Good to know the control module should be checked too, as I definitely want to avoid any cascade of problems from faulty glow plugs. They can get me in next Tuesday morning. Will update the forum once it's done to let others know if it fully resolved the cold start issues and brought the fuel consumption back to normal. Really hoping this fixes everything like it did in your case.