Glow plugs repair

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£212.85

Average quote for a glow plug replacement

What is a glow plug?

A glow plug is a heating component used to help diesel engines start up. The glow plug heats the fuel and air to encourage efficient fuel combustion, and the combustion starts the engine so that you can drive.

The glow plug is a pencil shaped piece of metal with a heating device at the end of it. Just as petrol needs spark plugs to start, diesel cars come with glow plugs which function in a similar way.

To indicate problems with this system, a glow plug light will either come on and stay on, flash or blink when a fault is detected by the ECU (engine control - or management - unit). Cars displaying this light should be taken to a specialist glow plug or diesel garage for proper diagnosis and service as soon as possible.

How much does it cost to change glow plugs?

The cost of a glow plug replacement can vary depending on your car make and model. The average cost of replacing glow plugs is £212.85, based on WhoCanFixMyCar data.

Car makeAverage price
Audi£198.23
BMW£231.65
Citroen£214.86
Ford£240.68
Mercedes£228.98
MINI£206.42
Nissan£193.13
Peugeot£227.34
Renault£186.09
Toyota£175.88
Vauxhall£230.43
Volkswagen£191.86
Volvo£219.41

  • Glow plugs

    The average cost of a glow plug replacement when booked on WhoCanFixMyCar is £212.85. Glow and plugs are fundamental parts of your engine's system and help ignite and start your car. Your glow plugs need changing every 100,000 miles to ensure your vehicle runs smoothly.

    Can include
    • Visual inspection and diagnosis
    • Glow plug change
  • Spark Plug Replacement

    The average cost of a spark plug replacement when booked on WhoCanFixMyCar is £153.78.

    Spark plugs are essential for petrol cars and should be replaced every 30,000-90,000 miles.

  • Car diagnostic test

    The average cost of a car diagnostic booked on WhoCanFixMyCar is £51.66.

    Car diagnostics testing involves plugging your vehicle into special software that can reveal issues with its engine, electrical system, transmission, braking, exhaust system, and more. A specialist will run tests on your vehicle to expose the cause of any problems you're having with your car.

    Can include
    • Full diagnostic testing
    • Recommended repairs
  • Mobile car battery replacement

    The average cost of a car battery service is on average £196.52 on WhoCanFixMyCar. If your car battery is dead, a mobile mechanic can come and replace it for you. The exact cost of a mobile car battery replacement will depend on the type of car battery you need.

    Can include
    • Home visit
    • Battery diagnostic
    • Battery replacement
  • Diesel particulate filter clean

    The average cost of a diesel particulate filter clean booked on WhoCanFixMyCar is £188.30. A diesel particulate filter (DPF) clean involves removing and restoring the filter component of diesel engines that captures soot. Over time, a DPF becomes blocked and needs to be cleaned or even replaced to ensure your car runs efficiently and correctly.

    Can include
    • DPF chemical clean
    • DPF replacement

Which glow plug replacement service do you need?

Glow plug light diagnostics

If your glow plug light has turned on, you must check this as soon as possible to get to the root cause of the problem. Most of the time, the sooner a problem is diagnosed, the simpler it is to fix. The glow plug light might be due to faulty crank sensors, but there are other issues that can cause the glow plug light to turn on which a mechanic will be able to diagnose for you.

Glow plug replacement

Glow plugs don’t have set times for when they need to be replaced. Instead, you should look at getting glow plugs replaced when they fail to work. As a precautionary measure, it is a good idea to get your glow plugs serviced every year. This is done by removing the glow plug and cleaning the threaded section and the cylinder head lubricated with special ceramic grease.

Broken or seized glow plugs

When it’s time to replace glow plugs, sometimes they are broken or seized up so are not easy to remove. This can happen when the glow plugs are seized from corrosion, rust or carbon build-up.

Top warning signs that your glow plug needs to be checked

Here are the warning signs that your glow plugs may need repairing:

  • The glow plug warning light comes on on the dashboard.

  • If your car's engine is hard at starting, it is a common symptom of faulty glow plugs.

  • Diesel engine misfires can be caused by issues with fuel quality, compression and fuel injection.

  • Decreased fuel efficiency.

  • Noticing white smoke when starting your engine up could be a sign of faulty glow plugs

  • Your engine may produce black smoke from the exhaust pipe, as a result of damaged glow plugs effecting the diesel combustion process.

Is a glow plug replacement necessary?

Yes - If you notice any tell-tale signs that the glow plugs are faulty, it’s definitely time to get your car booked in with a garage technician.

The good news is that glow plugs are extremely long lasting and often run for as long as 100,000 miles. Over time, they deteriorate due to wear and tear, but when they do, they are very cost-effective car parts to have replaced.

Find glow plug replacement garages near you

Looking for top glow plug replacement specialists near you?

  • Enter your car registration number and postcode

  • Give us a few details about your car and your requirements

  • We'll send you a great selection of quotes from mechanics and garages in your area.

What is a glow plug?

The diesel glow plug plays a vital role in making ignition successful. If the glow plug is not working properly, there will likely be a misfire during ignition.

How do I know I need new glow plugs?

Here are some of the reasons you might need to replace your glow plugs:

  • A hard starting engine is the most common sign of damaged glow plugs

  • Engine misfiring

  • Rough idling

  • Decreased fuel efficiency

  • White smoke

  • Black smoke

How long do glow plugs last?

Glow plugs should last a long time. Most reputable companies say that glow plugs last an average of 100,000 miles in a diesel engine.

What is the function of the glow plug?

While petrol engines use spark plugs during ignition, diesel engines use glow plugs.

How much does a glow plug replacement cost?

Depending on your car make and model, a glow plug replacement and labour could cost you around £212.85.

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