How do I know if my glow plug module is bad?

What are the symptoms of a defective glow plug control module?

White exhaust smoke – a defective glow plug will cause diesel to leak into the exhaust where it burns.
Hard to start – this could mean the engine is slow to start in warm weather or fails to start in cold weather.

What does glow plug warning light mean?

Glow Plug Indicator Indicator light means that the engine’s glow plugs are warming up and the engine should not be started until the light goes out. If it flashes, an issue has been detected, such as a worn out glow plug.

What is a typical resistance reading for a glow plug?

1Ω to 6Ω
To check a glow plug’s electrical resistance, first check your multimeter’s specifications, to see if it can measure low enough to give an accurate reading. Glow plugs usually have a resistance of 1Ω to 6Ω.

Is it safe to drive with the glow plug light on?

You can probably drive safely with the Glow Plug Light on as long as you take it easy. But you do need to get it checked out. Always remember, your warning lights are trying to tell you something, and determining whether the message is serious or of little consequence is best left up to a qualified mechanic.

Why does my glow plug light keep flashing?

If you have a Glow Plug Indicator flashing, it’s likely that your vehicle’s ECU (engine management unit) has detected a fault that can be related to the glow plugs, the glow plug light, the glow plug control module, or even sensors that aren’t directly related to the glow plug igniter itself necessarily.

How many glow plugs are in a diesel engine?

10 glow plugs
While petrol engines use spark plugs during ignition, diesel engines use glow plugs to start. The principal role of glow plugs is to heat up the air in a combustion chamber of a diesel engine to allow it to reach the necessary temperature. There may be as many as 10 glow plugs, one for each cylinder of the engine.

How do you start a diesel engine without glow plugs?

You can spray starter fluid into the intake of a diesel engine to start the engine without glow plugs,the engine will start running & develop enough friction to keep running.

Will a diesel start without glow plugs?

9 Answers. Glow plug is merely an aid for starting the engine. There are many designs still produced today without any glow plugs (eg military diesels run without any electricity), and even many modern diesel engines can be started if glow plugs fail (unless onboard computer prevents that).

How often do diesel glow plugs need replacing?

How Long Do Glow Plugs Last? The average life of a glow plug on a diesel engine is roughly 100,000 miles. So, it is not something you should have to worry about very often. However, they can fail before then, especially if you hard start frequently or use a lower quality glow plug than recommended in your pickup.

What does the glow plug mean on a diesel engine?

Due to the nature of diesel engines, they require some extra help when first starting up at a cold temperature. The glow plug is a heating element that is activated during startup when the temperature of the engine is too low. It raises the temperature inside the cylinders to facilitate in pressurizing and detonating the diesel fuel.

Where is the glow plug on a Duramax Diesel?

Here’s a short video that shows you can replace the no. 8 glow plug (driver’s side, furthest towards back of truck) on a Duramax diesel without removing the wheel well plastic. Trickiest part is lining up new glow plug to get it back in, because you need to do it by braille. That said, it’s not too tough.

Where is the glow plug control module located?

Located on the engine and with a direct connection to the engine control unit, the control module uses a microprocessor to analyse input from the engine control unit to determine information related to the working of the glow plugs.

When does the glow plug indicator light come on?

The system typically makes the driver wait around 10 seconds while the plugs warm up the engine. Once the correct temperature has been achieved, the computer will then let the driver start the engine. Normally, the glow plug indicator light will come on only when the engine is cold.

What does the diesel engine pre glow warning light mean?

A faulty timer may keep the plugs on for too long, wearing them out, or even not turn the plugs on at all. If a fault has been detected, the computer will save a code in its memory to help diagnose the issue. Have a certified technician hook up a scan tool to your car to read this code. Is it safe to drive with the diesel engine pre-glow light on?

Where is the glow plug on a diesel engine?

Since the diesel glow plug is positioned within the internal combustion chamber, it will deliver this heat to the engine. You now know that the diesel glow plug is a necessity for a diesel engine to function properly. So, if the diesel glow plug were to become damaged or become faulty for some reason, the symptoms would be easy to spot.

What’s the diagnostic code for a bad glow plug?

Usually when the diesel glow plug malfunctions, the diagnostic trouble code or engine light in the dashboard will turn on. To determine the problem you should use a diagnostic scan tool. Commonly, the code showing will be P0380: Defined as Glow Plug/Heater Circuit “A” Malfunction. Looking for Replacement Parts?