One glow plug throwing up a fault

Bluewater335D · 12-12-2018, 11:50 AM

Car running fine

if no problem as the car is running OK, presumably just leave as is - - (glow plugs only used for cold starting??)

Foxwell scan revealed fault - NO lights on dash to indicate a warning

can I just replace one, rather than all 6

I read somewhere that if there is a glow plug fault the DPF will not regenerate - am I correct - why would that be if correct

(I can always force a regen with Foxwell)

nick46 · 12-12-2018, 01:14 PM

Yes the dpf will not regen with any glow plug faults. I believe the glow plugs are used to increase the temperature of the exhaust gases during the regeneration process.

rasa bmw · 12-13-2018, 03:16 AM

it will regen,,but you have to keep clearing the fault codes with a device during regen,,read this from an old post on another forum...C110 will force a regen if you clear the 480a /480a1 error

you can have all the glow plugs out it will still regen.

Plug in c110 scanner go for drive and keep deleting the codes as they appear while driving. After few times the errors won't come back and you will see the temp before or after cat (one of the two) rise and stay at 600c for about 10-15mins That is a regen complete,,the c110 scanner is just put in as a guide,,you will probably need inpa/foxwell scanner or equivelent

E60525d · 12-13-2018, 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluewater335D

Car running fine

if no problem as the car is running OK, presumably just leave as is - - (glow plugs only used for cold starting??)

Foxwell scan revealed fault - NO lights on dash to indicate a warning

can I just replace one, rather than all 6

I read somewhere that if there is a glow plug fault the DPF will not regenerate - am I correct - why would that be if correct

(I can always force a regen with Foxwell)

It will still regen. I had several glow plug fault codes for about 6 months. No warning lights, DPF still regenned and car drove fine.

I then started to get difficuluty with cold start, changed the glow plug relay which got rid of all the codes.

Bluewater335D · 12-13-2018, 11:15 AM

Thanks Guys for your comments

lloydie · 12-14-2018, 06:02 AM

Worth noting the glow plugs are also used to clean up the emissions too, not solely from cold start, hence the lack of regen if the glowplugs are faulty.

E60525d · 12-14-2018, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lloydie

Worth noting the glow plugs are also used to clean up the emissions too, not solely from cold start, hence the lack of regen if the glowplugs are faulty.

Glow plug faults do not affect regen. My car was doing regens for over 6 months whilst I had several glow plug fault codes.

Nel2014 · 12-17-2018, 04:48 AM

Hi, I keep getting the fault code 'glow plug cylinder 1 control'. I have replaced the controller but still getting the error code. Was thinking of just replacing glow plug 1 to try and get rid of this.

Bluewater335D · 12-17-2018, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nel2014

Hi, I keep getting the fault code 'glow plug cylinder 1 control'. I have replaced the controller but still getting the error code. Was thinking of just replacing glow plug 1 to try and get rid of this.

The fault code I am getting is

"4222/not present - DDE Glow Plug cylinder 2, activation"

no idea what it means

lloydie · 12-17-2018, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E60525d

Glow plug faults do not affect regen. My car was doing regens for over 6 months whilst I had several glow plug fault codes.

Sorry to clarify my controller went down so all 6 plugs showed a fault. Definitely didn't regen though. Some people have reported that just one fault in the DDE will stop regen so who knows. But in answer to the original question they are not just used from cold.

E60525d · 12-17-2018, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lloydie

Sorry to clarify my controller went down so all 6 plugs showed a fault. Definitely didn't regen though. Some people have reported that just one fault in the DDE will stop regen so who knows. But in answer to the original question they are not just used from cold.

Fair enough. Could be different stategy on different engines. On my N57 it was definetly doing regens as i checked it regularly with ISTA.

Edition · 12-17-2018, 01:34 PM

My 335d still regens and has a glow plug error. It would not regen with the controller error tho

Bluewater335D · 12-17-2018, 04:06 PM

so are we are saying that the glow plugs are needed for cold starting, (obvious - as with all diesel engines), but also the Glow Plug controller is part of the regen system and if maybe one or two glow plugs are down, (with the 6 cyl BM engine), the system will still regen provided the Controller is working correctly, (and provided the engine reaches the required operating temperature, i.e the thermostat is working correctly)
and
if there is a fault with the Controller the system will not regen

lloydie · 12-18-2018, 05:49 AM

Yes that is my experience.
The only faults I had in the DDE were for plugs 1-6, which pointed at a controller (there is no code for the controller itself). No regen took place. Temps were good. Replaced controller, regen occurred the very next time I took it out.
It suggests that there is a maximum number of glow plugs that can be faulty before regen doesn't occur, or maybe as others have said a maximum number of faults in the DDE that prevents regen?

12-12-2018, 11:50 AM	#1
Bluewater335D Second Lieutenant 36 Rep 186 Posts Drives: E92 35D, F48 X1, M4, 911, 3.2 Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Hampshire, UK iTrader: (0)	One glow plug throwing up a fault Car running fine if no problem as the car is running OK, presumably just leave as is - - (glow plugs only used for cold starting??) Foxwell scan revealed fault - NO lights on dash to indicate a warning can I just replace one, rather than all 6 I read somewhere that if there is a glow plug fault the DPF will not regenerate - am I correct - why would that be if correct (I can always force a regen with Foxwell) Last edited by Bluewater335D; 12-12-2018 at 12:00 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

12-12-2018, 01:14 PM	#2
nick46 Captain 344 Rep 635 Posts Drives: Bmw E91 lci 330d msport Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Bridgwater iTrader: (0)	Yes the dpf will not regen with any glow plug faults. I believe the glow plugs are used to increase the temperature of the exhaust gases during the regeneration process.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-13-2018, 03:16 AM	#3
rasa bmw Colonel 246 Rep 2,025 Posts Drives: 640d sport/f31 330d x drive Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: northumberland iTrader: (0)	it will regen,,but you have to keep clearing the fault codes with a device during regen,,read this from an old post on another forum...C110 will force a regen if you clear the 480a /480a1 error you can have all the glow plugs out it will still regen. Plug in c110 scanner go for drive and keep deleting the codes as they appear while driving. After few times the errors won't come back and you will see the temp before or after cat (one of the two) rise and stay at 600c for about 10-15mins That is a regen complete,,the c110 scanner is just put in as a guide,,you will probably need inpa/foxwell scanner or equivelent Last edited by rasa bmw; 12-13-2018 at 03:22 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-13-2018, 11:15 AM	#5
Bluewater335D Second Lieutenant 36 Rep 186 Posts Drives: E92 35D, F48 X1, M4, 911, 3.2 Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Hampshire, UK iTrader: (0)	Thanks Guys for your comments
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-14-2018, 06:02 AM	#6
lloydie Private 12 Rep 49 Posts Drives: E92 335D Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Worth noting the glow plugs are also used to clean up the emissions too, not solely from cold start, hence the lack of regen if the glowplugs are faulty.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-17-2018, 04:48 AM	#8
Nel2014 Banned 24 Rep 248 Posts Drives: BMW 320d Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Bedfordshire iTrader: (0)	Hi, I keep getting the fault code 'glow plug cylinder 1 control'. I have replaced the controller but still getting the error code. Was thinking of just replacing glow plug 1 to try and get rid of this.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-17-2018, 01:34 PM	#12
Edition Private 9 Rep 69 Posts Drives: 335d Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	My 335d still regens and has a glow plug error. It would not regen with the controller error tho
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-17-2018, 04:06 PM	#13
Bluewater335D Second Lieutenant 36 Rep 186 Posts Drives: E92 35D, F48 X1, M4, 911, 3.2 Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Hampshire, UK iTrader: (0)	so are we are saying that the glow plugs are needed for cold starting, (obvious - as with all diesel engines), but also the Glow Plug controller is part of the regen system and if maybe one or two glow plugs are down, (with the 6 cyl BM engine), the system will still regen provided the Controller is working correctly, (and provided the engine reaches the required operating temperature, i.e the thermostat is working correctly) and if there is a fault with the Controller the system will not regen Last edited by Bluewater335D; 12-17-2018 at 04:19 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-18-2018, 05:49 AM	#14
lloydie Private 12 Rep 49 Posts Drives: E92 335D Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Yes that is my experience. The only faults I had in the DDE were for plugs 1-6, which pointed at a controller (there is no code for the controller itself). No regen took place. Temps were good. Replaced controller, regen occurred the very next time I took it out. It suggests that there is a maximum number of glow plugs that can be faulty before regen doesn't occur, or maybe as others have said a maximum number of faults in the DDE that prevents regen?
	Appreciate 0 Quote