P06CE

Code

Generic P — Powertrain

Cylinder 10 Glow Plug Incorrect

Brand: Generic

Type: P — Powertrain

Views: UK: 25 EN: 32 RU: 24

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Page language: EN

Causes

Open or shorted glow plug (cylinder 10)
Poor connector contact, corrosion or pin damage at the glow plug connector
Broken or shorted wiring/harness between glow plug and glow plug driver/ECM
Faulty glow plug relay, fuse or glow plug control module
Poor engine ground or grounding strap related to glow plug circuit
Intermittent connection due to chafing or heat damage

Symptoms

MIL/Check Engine light illuminated
Extended crank time or difficulty starting when cold
Rough idle after start, especially when cold
Increased white/black smoke on cold start
Diagnostic trouble code P06CE stored (cylinder 10 glow plug circuit)
Possible misfire on cylinder 10 under some conditions

What to check

Read and record freeze frame and readiness data; confirm P06CE and any related codes
Visual inspection of glow plug connector, wiring harness and engine ground straps for damage, corrosion or heat melt
Measure resistance of cylinder 10 glow plug to engine ground (with glow plug removed from driver path if required)
Measure supply voltage at glow plug connector during key ON pre‑heat and during cranking
Check continuity between glow plug connector and glow plug driver/ECM and check for shorts to ground or battery
Verify fuses and glow plug relay operation; check control module outputs with a scope or DVOM capable of capturing pre‑heat pulses

Signal parameters

Glow plug resistance (cold): typically ~0.5–3.0 Ω (varies by vehicle/type) — compare to other cylinders and manufacturer spec
Pre‑heat supply voltage (key ON, preheat active): ~11–14 V
Operating current per glow plug during preheat: typically ~5–20 A (varies with plug design)
Preheat duration: commonly 2–30 seconds depending on temperature and control strategy
Open circuit: infinite resistance; Short to ground: near 0 Ω or excessive current draw

Diagnostic algorithm

Verify the code with an OBD scanner and record any accompanying codes or freeze frame data. Note engine temperature at fault occurrence.
Perform a visual inspection of the glow plug 10 connector, wiring loom, and nearby harness for abrasion, melting, corrosion or rodent damage.
With key OFF, disconnect the cylinder 10 glow plug connector and measure the glow plug resistance to engine ground. Compare to manufacturer spec and to the other cylinder glow plugs. Replace the glow plug if out of range or open.
Check supply fuse and glow plug relay for proper operation. Verify relay clicks and supply voltage present at the relay output when preheat is commanded.
With backprobe or suitable test leads, measure voltage at the connector for cylinder 10 during key ON preheat and during cranking. Confirm proper voltage and that it matches other cylinder connectors.
Check wiring continuity between the glow plug connector and the glow plug driver/ECM; inspect for high resistance, shorts to ground or intermittent opens. Wiggle test harness while watching voltage/current for intermittent faults.
If wiring and glow plug check OK, test the glow plug control module or ECM output using current clamp or oscilloscope to confirm proper drive waveform and current limiting.
Repair or replace the failed component(s): glow plug, connector, wiring, relay, fuse, or control module as indicated by tests. Restore grounds if corroded or loose.
Clear codes and re‑test under the conditions that caused the fault (cold start). Verify the code does not return and that starting/idle behavior is normal.

Likely causes

Glow plug for cylinder 10 failed (open or out‑of‑spec resistance)
Corroded/loose connector at the glow plug terminal
Wiring harness damage or connector pin corrosion between glow plug and control module
Blown fuse or faulty glow plug relay/control module

Fault status

⚠️ Status

ECM detected incorrect glow plug circuit behavior for cylinder 10 (open, short, high resistance, no preheat voltage or abnormal current draw). Further testing of the glow plug, connector, wiring, relay/fuse and control module is required to locate the fault.

🟡 Repair difficulty: Medium

⏱️ Diagnostic time: 0.5-2.0 hours