P0676 Code: Cylinder #6 Glow Plug Circuit / Open

On-board diagnostic (OBD) codes can help you identify and resolve problems in your vehicle. However, it’s critical that you understand what they mean to address them properly. P0676 is one of the trouble codes that the OBD system can log. It indicates an issue with the glow plug circuit.

What Does the P0676 Code Mean?

Diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0676 stands for “Cylinder #6 Glow Plug Circuit/Open.”

Some diesel engines use glow plugs to warm up the combustion chamber before starting the engine. The extremely high air temperature produced by the rising and compressing piston in a cold diesel engine is lost through heat transfer to the cylinder head. A glow plug, which is a type of pencil-shaped preheater, helps prevent this.

In a typical system, the  engine management computer determines when to use glow plugs to help the engine start when the engine is cold. The glow plug timer module grounds the glow plug relay to send power to the glow plugs.

Code P0676 is logged when the glow plug on cylinder #6 is not heating up due to a malfunction in the glow plug circuit.

Note: The definition of code P0676 can differ depending on the vehicle manufacturer. Consult the appropriate repair manual or repair database for the exact code definition.

What are the Common Causes of the P0676 Code?

• Bad cylinder #6 glow plug
• Open or shorted glow plug circuit
• Damaged wiring connector
• Malfunctioning glow plug control module

What are the Common Symptoms of the P0676 Code?

• Activated check engine light
• Hard starting
• Engine won’t start when it’s cold
• The pre-heat light won’t go off

How to Diagnose the P0676 Code

DTC P0676  is a generic code that various makes and models can set. However, this does not mean there’s a universal approach to diagnosing its underlying cause.

The steps for troubleshooting this code will vary depending on the vehicle. If you don’t have the right tools or automotive know-how to diagnose the issue, it’s best to leave the job to professionals. Otherwise, you can do it on your own.

Check out this video to get an idea of what the diagnostic process for this code might involve:

How to Fix the P0676  Code

P0676 can share similar triggers and symptoms with other fault codes. However, that does not mean that they share the same solution. Remember that vehicles can be structured differently depending on their manufacturer, so make sure to refer to a factory repair guide that is specific to your car.

If you’re considering troubleshooting this code on your own, make sure to consult a vehicle-specific repair manual or an online repair database to learn the appropriate diagnostic and repair procedures for this code. Alternatively, you can leave the job to a professional.