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P0380: Glow plug circuit A fault

Electrical fault in the diesel glow plugs or their relay. Cold starts become harder and there may be white smoke for the first few minutes.

Code P0380 at a glance
CodeP0380
SystemEngine and transmission
GroupP03xx, Ignition and misfires
TypeGeneric: it means the same on every make
Can you keep driving?Yes, no rush

What P0380 means

Diesel engines use glow plugs to heat the combustion chamber so the fuel lights when cold. This code means the ECU has found a fault in the circuit that powers them: a burnt-out plug, a wire, the relay or the glow plug control unit. Which circuit is "A" is up to each manufacturer.

Most common causes

  • One or more burnt-out glow plugs
  • Loose, corroded or broken glow plug connector or wire
  • Blown glow plug fuse
  • Faulty glow plug relay or control unit
  • ECU fault (rare)

Symptoms

  • Hard starting from cold
  • White or bluish smoke on a cold start
  • Rough running for the first few minutes
  • Glow plug light flashing or engine warning light on

Can you drive with P0380?

Yes, no rush You can drive normally; the problem mainly shows on cold starts. Best to get it fixed before winter.

How to check it

Notice whether the engine starts fine when warm but struggles when cold in the morning: that is the classic glow plug pattern. Tell the garage, as they can test each plug to find the one that has failed.

How to read and clear P0380 with Final OBD

Plug an OBD2 scanner in under the steering wheel, switch the ignition on and open Final OBD. Under Faults you’ll see P0380 with this same explanation and whether it’s confirmed, pending or permanent.

With Free you read this code with its short description for nothing, and clear it if the engine stores it over standard OBD. With Pro you get the full explanation, how the car was running when it was logged (revs, temperature, load) and clearing in every control unit.

Clearing the code only turns the light off: if the cause is still there, it comes back. Clear it once it’s fixed, and not right before the ITV. It’s all in how to read and clear fault codes and in the ITV and OBD.

Similar codes

P0380 is a generic code, so it means the same on any make, for example on Alfa Romeo, Audi, Dacia, Kia, Opel / Vauxhall, Toyota. See what Final OBD does on your car in makes and models.

What does code P0380 mean?

Diesel engines use glow plugs to heat the combustion chamber so the fuel lights when cold. This code means the ECU has found a fault in the circuit that powers them: a burnt-out plug, a wire, the relay or the glow plug control unit. Which circuit is "A" is up to each manufacturer.

Can you drive with P0380?

You can drive normally; the problem mainly shows on cold starts. Best to get it fixed before winter.

How do you clear P0380?

With an OBD2 scanner and an app like Final OBD, which clears it for free if it’s stored by the engine control unit. But clearing it only turns the light off: if the cause isn’t fixed, P0380 comes back.