Technical Ducato 2.0 JTD 2013 won't start "check glow plugs"

[terespl]

Hi,

A 2013 Ducato 2.0 JTD 115hp has suddenly stopped starting. In the morning everything was normal, after a few hours it will not start. On the dashboard it displays "check glow plugs" + the glow plug lamp flashes. As I turn the key to ignition, nothing happens.
The errors read were: P0671, P0672, P0673, P0674 which means all 4 glow plugs are faulty. I do not believe that all 4 of them died so suddenly. At temperatures near freezing it was starting with problems. When it was warm it used to start perfectly.

Where is the glow plug control unit in this engine, because I can't find it. The X250 eLearn shows it should near the left lamp, but there's no sign of it. Maybe because it's the "semi face lifting" - all black interior.
Unfortunately I don't have better manual for it (maybe some good soul can share some of it).

BR,
Tomek

 

[Anthony489]

Hi terespi

The normal place for the glow plug controller is below the left headlamp, bolted to the inner wing. It is best to remove the headlamp to get access.

It is extremely unlikely that all 4 glowplugs have failed at the same time. There are two Fuses in the engine bay fuse box B001 which you should check first:

Fuse F02 50 Amps This is the main high current supply to the controller, which is switched and goes out to the 4 plugs
Fuse F11 15 Amps This supplies the low current to the electronic part of the controller ("brain").

Fuse F11 is designated "Electronic Injection Secondary Services". It supplies 5 different items:

Glow Plug Controller
Intake Air Throttle Body
EGR Solenoid Valve
Exhaust Lambda Sensor
Oil Vapour Heater "Blow-by heater" (Stops ice in crankcase ventilation hose in very cold weather)

Sometimes the Oil Vapour Heater goes short-circuit, and blows Fuse F11. The heater is inside a 25 mm diameter rubber pipe near the back of the engine. It is only needed in very cold weather. If F11 blows, the engine will still run, but will show fault codes/warnings.

 

[terespl]

Hi terespi

The normal place for the glow plug controller is below the left headlamp, bolted to the inner wing. It is best to remove the headlamp to get access.

Hi Anthony489,

in my car the glow plug controller (GPC) is located behind the right headlamp and there's no need to remove the headlamp. Anyway, the GPC was fine, the fuses were all ok. All the glow plugs had resistance around 1 ohm.

I've read on other forum that ground (mass) cable was a common problem for Ducato / Boxer / Jumper. It's located behind the air filter, close to the gearbox. It was looking pretty bad (lot's of green tarnish on it). I've replaced it with a new cable, deleted errors and the engine started without any problems. Previously the computer was probably detecting not enough voltage on the engine and didn't allow the engine to start.
I've also decided to add secondary mass cable to connect the engine and body.

 

[bugsymike]

Hi,

A 2013 Ducato 2.0 JTD 115hp has suddenly stopped starting. In the morning everything was normal, after a few hours it will not start. On the dashboard it displays "check glow plugs" + the glow plug lamp flashes. As I turn the key to ignition, nothing happens.
The errors read were: P0671, P0672, P0673, P0674 which means all 4 glow plugs are faulty. I do not believe that all 4 of them died so suddenly. At temperatures near freezing it was starting with problems. When it was warm it used to start perfectly.

Where is the glow plug control unit in this engine, because I can't find it. The X250 eLearn shows it should near the left lamp, but there's no sign of it. Maybe because it's the "semi face lifting" - all black interior.
Unfortunately I don't have better manual for it (maybe some good soul can share some of it).

BR,
Tomek

If you have a multimeter and are happy using it, I would pull the leads off the heater plugs and measure the DC voltage between the lead and earth on the engine(not always but usually slightly less than battery voltage) when someone turns the ignition on for you. NB. Keep clear in case they turn the key too far. If you have power to all four leads next turn ignition off, set your multimeter to Ohms and with test probe held on the engine for earth touch the other probe to each heater plug terminal in turn, if you get a reading usually that means the heater plug works, if no reading heater plug is faulty. This way you only need to change the faulty ones.