Code
P0674
Generic
P — Powertrain
Cylinder 4 Glow Plug Circuit/Open
AI status
Completed
Completed
100%
Causes
- Open circuit in wiring to glow plug (broken wire, connector disconnected)
- Failed glow plug (open internal element)
- Corroded or loose glow plug connector or terminal
- Faulty glow plug relay, fuse, or control module
- Faulty ECM/engine control driver for glow plug circuit
- Shorted wiring to ground or to other circuits (less common)
Symptoms
- Hard starting when engine is cold (single cylinder may contribute)
- Extended crank time or increased white smoke on cold start
- Glow plug warning light or glow plug indicator on dash (on some vehicles)
- Possible rough idle until engine warms (less common)
- Stored P0674 trouble code and possible related misfire codes
What to check
- Retrieve freeze-frame and live data with a scan tool; confirm P0674 and check glow plug status/commands
- Perform visual inspection of glow plug, connector, and wiring for damage or corrosion
- Check fuse(s) and relay(s) for glow plug/heater circuit
- Backprobe cylinder 4 glow plug connector and measure voltage while the ECM commands glow plug on
- Measure glow plug resistance (at room temperature) and compare to specification or other cylinders
- Perform current draw test on cylinder 4 glow plug when commanded (or swap with another cylinder to compare)
Signal parameters
- Glow plug resistance (cold, typical): approx. 0.3–3.0 ohms (varies by vehicle and glow plug type) — open = infinite ohms
- Supply voltage (when commanded): approx. battery voltage (11–14 V) at connector (may be pulsed/PWM)
- Current draw (individual glow plug): typically 2–15 A when energized (varies by design)
- ECM/driver command: ON or PWM duty cycle reported by scan tool when preheat is active
- Open-circuit indicator: no voltage or no current at glow plug connector when commanded
Diagnostic algorithm
- Read and record freeze frame and live data. Confirm P0674 is current or history and note battery voltage at test time.
- Visually inspect glow plug #4, connector and wiring for corrosion, loose pins, heat damage, or contamination. Repair any visible damage.
- Check glow plug supply fuse(s) and relay(s). Replace if blown or faulty and retest.
- With harness connector disconnected, measure resistance of glow plug #4 to ground. If infinite or out of spec, replace the glow plug.
- With a helper or appropriate equipment, command glow plugs ON and backprobe the connector; measure voltage and/or current. No voltage or no current indicates open/harness/driver issue.
- If supply voltage is present but glow plug shows open, replace the glow plug and re-test. If glow plug functions when swapped to another cylinder, the original glow plug was faulty.
- If glow plug tests good but no command/current is present, check continuity between the glow plug connector and the glow plug driver/module, inspect wiring for shorts/opens, and test the driver relay/module per factory procedure.
- If wiring and module tests normal, inspect ECM/driver outputs; consult vehicle-specific wiring diagrams. Replace faulty driver/module or repair wiring as required.
- Clear codes and perform functional test and road/starting verification to ensure code does not return.
- Safety note: Glow plugs draw high current and can be hot. Use insulated tools, avoid shorting terminals, and disconnect battery when performing replacements unless testing live conditions explicitly.
Likely causes
- Open/poor connection at the cylinder 4 glow plug connector or terminal
- Glow plug element for cylinder 4 has failed open
- Blown fuse or failed relay for glow plug supply circuit
- Damaged harness (chafing, heat damage) between glow plug and glow plug module/ECM
- Faulty glow plug driver module or ECM output for cylinder 4
Fault status
Status
P0674 — Cylinder 4 Glow Plug Circuit/Open: Open circuit or no current to glow plug #4 detected by ECM.
Repair difficulty: Medium
Diagnostic time: 0.5-2.0 hours (varies by vehicle accessibility and needed parts)
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