PROTOCOLO DE TALLER DIESEL OBD-II8-10 min read
P0672Bujías y ArranqueSeveridad Moderada💡 Luz de avería encendida

P0672: Circuito de la bujía de precalentamiento del cilindro 2 / Circuito abierto

El código de diagnóstico de falla (DTC) P0672 indica que el módulo de control del motor (ECM/PCM) o la unidad de control de incandescencia (GCU) ha detectado un circuito abierto, resistencia eléctrica excesiva o fallo de continuidad aislado específicamente en el circuito de la bujía de precalentamiento del cilindro 2. En los motores diésel de riel común modernos, cada bujía de precalentamiento recibe alimentación conmutada y monitoreada de forma independiente por el controlador electrónico de incandescencia. Durante las fases de precalentamiento y postcalentamiento, la resistencia shunt interna de detección de corriente asignada al cilindro 2 registra un flujo de corriente cercano a cero (< 1.0 A) al energizarse, lo que indica un filamento térmico cortado dentro de la bujía, un capuchón conector desconectado o una línea interrumpida en el arnés eléctrico.

🚗 PROTOCOLO CONDUCTOR Y REPARACIÓN

🚗 Seguridad operativa, presupuesto estimado y verificación

🟢 Aviso: Seguro para conducir / Revisión emisiones
  1. 01

    🚦 Seguridad de conducción y riesgo mecánico

    Evaluación mecánica inmediata y necesidad de grúa

    Circuito de la bujía de precalentamiento del cilindro 2 abierto - Fallo de postcalentamiento y bloqueo del filtro de partículas

    La bujía de precalentamiento del cilindro 2 se ha quemado. Además de asistir en el arranque en frío, los motores common-rail modernos activan las bujías durante la regeneración del DPF para mantener las temperaturas de escape.

    PELIGROS MECÁNICOS SI CONTINÚA CONDUCIENDO:La imposibilidad de regenerar el hollín diésel provoca una rápida acumulación de contrapresión en el DPF.
  2. 02

    💰 Presupuesto típico de taller

    Niveles de costo esperados para repuestos y mano de obra
    Mantenimiento menor / Filtro25 € - 60 €: Sustitución de la bujía de precalentamiento del cilindro 2

    Limpieza de sensor, cambio de filtro de combustible, revisión de fusibles o conectores.

    Cambio de válvula / Sensor90 € - 220 €: Sustitución del juego de 4 bujías de precalentamiento OEM nuevas

    Sustitución de componente individual (válvula reguladora, unidad dosificadora o inyector reconstruido).

    Reparación mayor / Bomba e inyectores350 € - 850 €: Extracción del vástago roto de la bujía de precalentamiento en la culata

    Revisión de bomba de alta presión, juego de inyectores nuevos o sustitución del conjunto DPF.

    Tarifas de referencia de talleres. Más del 70% de las incidencias se resuelven en Nivel 1 o 2 sin sustituir subconjuntos completos.

  3. 03

    🧰 Verificaciones visuales rápidas en garaje

    Chequeo de 5 minutos sin herramientas antes de ir al taller
    11. Comprobación con óhmetro: Desconecte el conector del cilindro 2 y mida entre la punta de la bujía y masa; una resistencia infinita confirma que el elemento calefactor está cortado.
    22. Comprobación del cableado: Verifique la señal de alimentación PWM de 12 V / 5 V procedente del relé de precalentamiento al poner el contacto.
    33. Procedimiento de extracción en caliente: Aplique líquido desincrustante penetrante en el pozo de la bujía con el motor caliente antes de intentar aflojarla.
  4. 04

    🛡️ Protección ante diagnósticos erróneos en taller

    Preguntas técnicas exactas para evitar sustituciones de piezas innecesarias
    ""Verifique la continuidad con un óhmetro en la bujía de precalentamiento del cilindro 2 antes de asumir un fallo del relé de calentadores.""
    ""Asegúrese de usar una llave dinamométrica durante el montaje; un apriete excesivo provoca tensiones mecánicas internas en la cerámica.""
    ""Reinicie los contadores de adaptación de las bujías de precalentamiento y compruebe que la regeneración del DPF ya no esté bloqueada.""

    Nota técnica: Haga estas preguntas técnicas a su mecánico antes de autorizar presupuestos caros:

🔧 PROTOCOLO TÉCNICO PROFESIONAL Y TALLERRAPID ASSESSMENT

Triaje de taller en 30 segundos

Síntomas principales
  • Check Engine Light (MIL) and amber spiral glow plug indicator illuminated on the dashboard
  • Engine stumbling, rough idle, and misfiring on Cylinder 2 for 15-45 seconds following a cold start
  • Puffs of unburned white or grey exhaust smoke during cold starting with a strong smell of raw diesel fuel
Causas más probables
  • Burned out, fractured, or open internal heating filament inside the Cylinder 2 glow plug
  • Loose, disconnected, or corroded electrical connector cap on the Cylinder 2 glow plug terminal
  • Broken, chafed, or melted wiring harness wire between the Glow Control Unit and Cylinder 2 glow plug
Primera acción requerida

Connect scan tool live telemetry: compare Target Fuel Rail Pressure vs Actual Rail Pressure and log metering valve command PWM duty cycle during idle and road load.

Expensive Diagnostic Pitfall & Technical Reality

❌ Error común en el taller:

P0672 confirms the glow plug control module (GPCM) and all glow plugs must be replaced as an entire assembly ($800 - $1,600).

🔍 Realidad técnica e hidráulica:

P0672 denotes an isolated circuit open specifically on Cylinder 2. The GPCM module is fully functional because it correctly identified the individual cylinder fault. Forcing the replacement of all plugs or the relay module is an expensive waste. Testing Cylinder 2 with a multimeter confirms whether the plug filament is blown (reading OL) or the harness wire is damaged.

💡 Protocolo de verificación técnica:

Replacing the undamaged module and intact plugs ($600+) vs replacing only the single Cylinder 2 plug ($25), saving over $550.

Glow Plug Tip Swelling & Thread Shearing Catastrophe Warning

CRITICAL WORKSHOP WARNING: Extreme care is mandatory when removing the Cylinder 2 glow plug to prevent cylinder head destruction!

MANDATORY PROTOCOL: When a glow plug fails, electrical arcing or combustion oil contamination often causes the heating tip to swell in diameter. When unscrewing the plug, the swollen tip can jam in the cylinder head bore. NEVER force the plug with an impact wrench! Apply penetrating oil, run the engine to full operating temperature (90°C), and use a calibrated torque wrench set to a maximum of 25 Nm (M8) or 35 Nm (M10). If the plug binds, work it back and forth with penetrating fluid to avoid snapping the plug inside the cylinder head.

PLATFORM ARCHITECTURE

Motores y plataformas de inyección más afectados

Este código de error afecta principalmente a las siguientes plataformas diésel common rail. Consulte su familia de motores para ver fallos típicos y referencias de piezas:

BMW 2.0d / 3.0d (N47 / N57 / M57TU2)

Bosch CRI2.5 / CRI3.0 Common Rail

Fallo típico de fábrica: Injector balance drift beyond +/- 4.0 mg/stroke, glow plug control unit (BERU) power lead failure, DPF backpressure accumulation.

Componente clave:13537805428, 0445116024, 12217801201

Ford / PSA 1.6 TDCi / HDi (DV6ATED4 / DLD-416)

Bosch CRI2-16 Common Rail System

Fallo típico de fábrica: Injector copper washer blow-by (black death), injector cylinder circuit fretting corrosion, DPF pressure pipes heat cracking.

Componente clave:0445110239, 1980J7, 1618LP

Volkswagen / Audi 2.0 TDI (EA189 / CFFB / CFGB)

Bosch EDC17 Common Rail System

Fallo típico de fábrica: Piezo stack degradation, injector harness terminal fretting, DPF differential pressure sensor silicone tube split.

Componente clave:03L130277, 0445110369, 076906051A

Mercedes-Benz 2.1 CDI (OM651 / OM646)

Delphi CRD2 / Bosch Common Rail Injection

Fallo típico de fábrica: Delphi piezo to solenoid conversion wiring harness chafing, differential pressure sensor internal diaphragm drift.

Componente clave:A6510704987, A6510700587, A0061539528
WORKSHOP MASTER TEARDOWN GUIDE

Diesel Glow Plug Diagnostics & Circuit Troubleshooting Guide

Workshop troubleshooting guide for diesel glow plug fault codes P0380, P0670, and P0671 to P0674. Resistance specs, GPCM relay testing, and removal torque.

Read Full Master Guide →
THEORY OF OPERATION

Circuito de control y lógica del actuador

1. Dynamic In-Demand Fuel Metering

The Cylinder 2 glow plug is threaded directly into the cylinder head with its heating tip protruding into the combustion chamber adjacent to the common rail fuel injector nozzle. It receives current via a dedicated wire running from Channel 2 of the Glow Control Unit. The outer steel casing of the glow plug provides the electrical ground return through its threads directly into the engine block. When energized, current flows through an internal heating and regulating coil, heating the tip to over 1,000°C in under 2 to 4 seconds.

2. Closed-Loop PID Deviation Monitoring

The GCU's internal microprocessor monitors instantaneous current on the Cylinder 2 output MOSFET on every activation cycle. Under normal conditions, inrush current peaks at 15A-25A and stabilizes at 8A-12A. If current fails to exceed 1.0 A within 200 milliseconds of activation (indicating infinite resistance / open circuit), the GCU registers a Channel 2 fault and transmits this status to the ECM over the LIN-bus, setting DTC P0672 and turning on the glow plug warning light.

3. Diagnostic Trap: Normally Open (NO) vs Normally Closed (NC) Valves

Open Circuit Isolation Rule: An open circuit on Cylinder 2 glow plug causes cold-start stumbling and white smoke isolated to Cylinder 2. Once the engine warms up, the fault disappears from driveability, but the DTC remains stored in the ECM. The most common cause is a burned-out heating filament inside the plug, which can be verified in under 60 seconds with an ohmmeter.

ENGINEERING SPECIFICATIONS

Valores físicos eléctricos e hidráulicos

Solenoid Coil DC ResistanceStandard 12V Metal Glow Plug: 0.6 - 1.2 Ω @ 20°C; Low-Voltage Ceramic Plug: 0.3 - 0.5 Ω; Open Circuit: > 10 Ω (OL)Measured @ 20°C across terminals 1 & 2
Insulation Resistance> 10 MΩ measured between glow plug terminal pin and outer threaded body (tested @ 250V/500V DC)Between terminals and pump body (ground)
Operating Supply VoltagePulsed DC Voltage: 4.4 V to 11.5 V DC depending on engine design; Battery supply > 12.0 VHigh-side feed from ECM / main relay
PWM Frequency StandardPulse-Width Modulated (PWM) current feed controlled by electronic GCUSquare-wave PWM modulation
Idle Duty Cycle (Warm Engine)Pre-heating Phase Current: 15 A - 25 A inrush decaying to 8 A - 12 A holding current per plugNominal baseline at 250–350 bar
Full-Load Duty Cycle (WOT)Threshold for DTC P0672 (Open Circuit): Current draw < 1.0 A during commanded activationMaximum high-speed fuel delivery demand
Low-Pressure Feed SupplyMaximum Permissible Harness Resistance: < 0.3 Ω from GCU output pin to Cylinder 2 glow plug terminalMeasured at pump fuel inlet
Internal Cascade BackpressureMaximum Breakaway Shear Torque: M8 threads = 20-25 Nm; M10 threads = 35-40 Nm (never exceed to prevent snapping!)Controlled by overflow cascade valve
PROCEDURAL PROTOCOL

Protocolo de Diagnóstico de Taller Paso a Paso

STEP 1

Measure Cylinder 2 Glow Plug Resistance In-Place

Turn ignition OFF and pull the electrical connector cap off the Cylinder 2 glow plug. Set a digital multimeter to the lowest resistance scale (200 Ω) and zero the test leads. Touch one probe to the glow plug center terminal pin and the other probe to clean metal on the cylinder head. A healthy standard plug reads 0.6-1.2 Ω (low-voltage ceramic reads 0.3-0.5 Ω). An infinite reading (OL / > 10 Ω) confirms that the glow plug filament is burned open and must be replaced.

STEP 2

Test Harness Voltage Output from Glow Control Unit

Connect a 12V test light (or digital multimeter) between the Cylinder 2 glow plug harness cap and cylinder head ground. Turn ignition ON with a cold engine. The test light must illuminate brightly (or multimeter show battery voltage / PWM pulse) for 2 to 5 seconds. If power is present at the cap but the plug is open, replacing the plug resolves the issue.

STEP 3

Harness Continuity & Load Test to GCU

If no voltage was measured at the harness cap, disconnect the output connector at the Glow Control Unit. Using a digital multimeter, test continuity on the wire from the GCU Channel 2 pin to the Cylinder 2 glow plug connector (must read < 0.3 Ω). Perform a dynamic load test using a 21W automotive bulb to verify that the wire can support current without high-resistance voltage drops.

STEP 4

Test Glow Plug Terminal Ground Path Through Cylinder Head

Measure resistance between the outer hexagonal steel body of the glow plug and the battery negative terminal. Resistance must be < 0.1 Ω. If excessive resistance is found, corrosion or thread sealant on the glow plug threads is preventing electrical ground return.

STEP 5

Safe Removal & Torque Limit Inspection

If replacing the plug, warm the engine to operating temperature (> 80°C). Spray high-grade penetrating fluid around the glow plug base. Use a calibrated torque wrench set to 20 Nm (M8) or 35 Nm (M10). Gently apply counter-clockwise pressure. If the plug turns freely, remove it; if it binds, turn it back clockwise slightly and re-apply penetrating fluid to work carbon out of the threads.

STEP 6

New Glow Plug Installation & Thread Preparation

Before installing a new glow plug, ream the carbon out of the glow plug aperture using an OEM reamer tool greased to catch carbon flakes. Apply a tiny smear of high-temperature ceramic anti-seize paste to the threads (avoiding the heating tip). Tighten to specified factory torque (typically 12-15 Nm for M8, 15-20 Nm for M10).

COMPONENT-LEVEL REPAIR

Reparación de hardware y lista de piezas BOM

Cylinder 2 Cold-Start Preheating Subsystem

Bosch Duraterm High-Efficiency Glow Plug - Cylinder 2

0 250 403 008 / Beru GE101 / OEM Glow Plug

Reaches 1,000°C tip temperature within 3 seconds to facilitate compression ignition

OEM: Protocol: Check resistance with digital multimeter: normal is 0.5 - 1.2 ohms; replace if open circuit (>10 ohms)
Glow Plug Wiring Harness Single-Terminal Push-On Boot

OEM Silicone Glow Cap Wire Repair Pigtail

Provides corrosion-resistant high-current contact to the glow plug terminal pin

OEM: Protocol: Replace if silicone boot is hardened, cracked, or loose on the plug tip
High-Temperature Ceramic Assembly Paste (Metal-Free)

Beru GKF01 / Liqui Moly 3418 Ceramic Paste

Prevents galvanic corrosion and thread seizure between glow plug steel threads and aluminum cylinder head

OEM: Protocol: Mandatory application to threads and shaft during installation
Workshop Technical & Economic Benchmark: Installation torque: 15 - 18 Nm; Breakaway torque limit: 35 Nm (NEVER exceed 35 Nm to avoid shearing the plug); Long-reach thin-wall 8mm/10mm glow plug socket.
LIVE WORKSHOP TOOL

Calculadora interactiva de tolerancias Common Rail

Glow Plug Resistance & Current Draw Inspector

Test resistance across glow plug terminal to cylinder head ground: Healthy plugs read 0.5 - 1.2 ohms. If reading OL (infinity), the internal heater filament is severed.

📐 Factory Engineering Tolerance: Normal Glow Plug Resistance: 0.5 - 1.2 Ohms (Cold)
OEM REPLACEMENTS

Componentes de inyección asociados

Las siguientes bombas de combustible e inyectores common rail originales están verificados para motores con el código P0672. Verifique las presiones de trabajo antes del reemplazo:

Common Rail Injector

0445110239BOSCH

0445110239 Injector: PSA 1.6 HDi Ford 1.6 TDCi Specs

View Technical Specs & Fitment →
Common Rail Injector

0445110369BOSCH

0445110369 Injector: VW 2.0 TDI EA189 CFFB CFHC Specs

View Technical Specs & Fitment →
Common Rail Injector

0445116024BOSCH

BOSCH 0445116024 Common Rail Piezo Injector for BMW N47 2.0d & N57 3.0d

View Technical Specs & Fitment →
CALIBRATION RELEARN

Reinicio de adaptación de bomba y ciclo de rodaje

Following the replacement of the Cylinder 2 glow plug or harness repair for DTC P0672:

1. Clear all stored trouble codes from the Engine Control Module using an OBD-II diagnostic tool.

2. Access ECM Special Functions -> 'Glow Plug Adaptation / Reset Learned Resistance' (if required on vehicle platform).

3. Switch ignition OFF and leave undisturbed for 30 seconds to allow the ECM and GCU to register the cleared fault status.

4. Perform a cold soak test: let the engine cool, switch ignition ON, and verify that the spiral glow light illuminates and turns off normally.

5. Start the engine and verify smooth combustion on Cylinder 2 without cold-start shaking or white smoke.

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS

Diagnóstico diferencial y códigos relacionados

P0671

Cylinder 1 Glow Plug Circuit / Open

P0670

Glow Plug Module Control Circuit / Open

P0302

Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected

P0380

Glow Plug/Heater Circuit 'A' Malfunction

FIELD REPAIR REPORTS

Casos reales de taller

CASE #1

2014 Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi (DV6C)(152,000 km)

Reported Complaint:Rough idle for first 20 seconds on cold start with engine warning light; solitary code P0672 stored.
Teardown Root Cause:Tested Cylinder 2 glow plug terminal: resistance read OL (burned filament). Cylinders 1, 3, 4 read 0.7 Ohms.
Repair Solution:Carefully extracted Cylinder 2 glow plug on warm engine, applied ceramic assembly grease to replacement Bosch plug, and torqued to 15 Nm. Cold starting returned to factory smoothness with code cleared.
DIAGNOSTIC FAQ

Preguntas técnicas frecuentes

¿Qué significa el código de fallo P0672?

El código de diagnóstico de falla (DTC) P0672 indica que el módulo de control del motor (ECM/PCM) o la unidad de control de incandescencia (GCU) ha detectado un circuito abierto, resistencia eléctrica excesiva o fallo de continuidad aislado específicamente en el circuito de la bujía de precalentamiento del cilindro 2. En los motores diésel de riel común modernos, cada bujía de precalentamiento recibe alimentación conmutada y monitoreada de forma independiente por el controlador electrónico de incandescencia. Durante las fases de precalentamiento y postcalentamiento, la resistencia shunt interna de detección de corriente asignada al cilindro 2 registra un flujo de corriente cercano a cero (< 1.0 A) al energizarse, lo que indica un filamento térmico cortado dentro de la bujía, un capuchón conector desconectado o una línea interrumpida en el arnés eléctrico.

¿Cuáles son los síntomas más comunes de P0672?

Check Engine Light (MIL) and amber spiral glow plug indicator illuminated on the dashboard, Engine stumbling, rough idle, and misfiring on Cylinder 2 for 15-45 seconds following a cold start, Puffs of unburned white or grey exhaust smoke during cold starting with a strong smell of raw diesel fuel, Slightly longer cranking time before the engine fires up when temperatures are near or below freezing, Active DPF soot regeneration blocked on some vehicle platforms, leading to eventual soot accumulation, Diagnostic scan tool reports 'Cylinder 2 Glow Plug Circuit Open / Electrical Malfunction'.

¿Qué causa P0672 en un motor diésel?

Burned out, fractured, or open internal heating filament inside the Cylinder 2 glow plug; Loose, disconnected, or corroded electrical connector cap on the Cylinder 2 glow plug terminal; Broken, chafed, or melted wiring harness wire between the Glow Control Unit and Cylinder 2 glow plug; Blown internal output driver MOSFET channel for Cylinder 2 inside the Glow Control Unit (GCU); Severe carbon buildup or corrosion on the glow plug threads preventing adequate electrical grounding to the cylinder head; Water intrusion in the glow plug harness boots causing terminal pin oxidation and contact loss.

¿Es seguro conducir con el código P0672 activo?

🟡 Precaución: Modo emergencia activo / Acudir a taller

¿Cuánto cuesta reparar el código de avería P0672?

Los costes habituales de reparación para P0672 dependen de la causa raíz identificada en el diagnóstico: Nivel 1 (Mantenimiento menor / DIY): 25 € - 60 €: Sustitución de la bujía de precalentamiento del cilindro 2 (Limpieza de sensor, cambio de filtro de combustible, revisión de fusibles o conectores.); Nivel 2 (Sustitución de componente): 90 € - 220 €: Sustitución del juego de 4 bujías de precalentamiento OEM nuevas (Sustitución de componente individual (válvula reguladora, unidad dosificadora o inyector reconstruido).); Nivel 3 (Subconjunto mayor): 350 € - 850 €: Extracción del vástago roto de la bujía de precalentamiento en la culata (Revisión de bomba de alta presión, juego de inyectores nuevos o sustitución del conjunto DPF.). Tarifas de referencia de talleres. Más del 70% de las incidencias se resuelven en Nivel 1 o 2 sin sustituir subconjuntos completos.

Can I continue driving with DTC P0672 active?

Yes, once the engine is warm, the glow plug plays no role in normal combustion, so the vehicle will drive with normal power and economy. However, in cold weather, the engine will start hard with Cylinder 2 misfiring and smoking. Additionally, some vehicles disable DPF regeneration while any glow plug code is active, which will eventually clog the DPF.

Should I replace all glow plugs when only Cylinder 2 has code P0672?

Yes, strongly recommended. All glow plugs endure the exact same number of thermal cycles, cold starts, and combustion exposures. When one plug burns open, the remaining plugs are usually near the end of their operational lifespan.

Can I test the glow plug without removing it from the engine?

Yes! Simply unplug the wiring cap from the top of the Cylinder 2 glow plug. Use a digital multimeter on the 200 Ω scale: place the positive probe on the center terminal pin and the negative probe on the engine cylinder head metal. If it reads OL (infinite resistance), the plug is 100% burned out and must be replaced.