Cylinder 6 Glow Plug Circuit/Open
What it means
P0676 is a diesel code indicating an open circuit on the cylinder 6 glow plug — usually a burned-out glow plug or a broken wire. Glow plugs preheat the cylinder for starting, so the main effects are hard cold starts, rough warm-up, and white smoke rather than a no-start in warm conditions.
Can I keep driving? Usually yes, but expect hard cold starts and rough cold running until the cylinder 6 glow plug circuit is repaired.
Real-world scan data
Figures reflect only diagnostic scans recorded through our own apps and tools. Cars are typically scanned because a symptom or warning light prompted it, so these counts describe our scan records — not the incidence of faults in any model, and not the quality, reliability, or safety of any vehicle. No comparison between manufacturers or models is implied. All trademarks belong to their respective owners; no affiliation or endorsement is implied.
Common symptoms
What you'll notice
- Hard starting, especially in cold weather
- Rough idle or a miss until the engine warms up
- White or grey exhaust smoke on a cold start
- Check-engine or glow-plug warning light on
Common causes
Most likely first
- Failed cylinder 6 glow plug with an open elementLikely
- Open or broken wiring in the glow plug circuitCommon
- Loose or corroded connector at the glow plug or moduleCommon
- Faulty glow plug control moduleLess often
How to diagnose & fix
Work through it in order
- Scan and confirm the open-circuit fault is on cylinder 6.
- Measure the glow plug's resistance; an open reading means it needs replacing.
- Inspect and repair the wiring and connector between the module and the cylinder 6 glow plug.
- Verify the glow plug control module output, then clear and re-test on a cold start.
FAQ
Quick answers
Is it safe to drive with P0676?+
Can I just clear P0676?+
Related codes
Read & clear P0676 yourself
Scan your car, confirm the code, and clear it once it's fixed — with OBD DashX on your phone.