P0382: Glow plug circuit B malfunction
The ECU has found an electrical fault in glow plug circuit B of the diesel engine. It is usually a failed glow plug, wiring or the control relay.
| Code | P0382 |
|---|---|
| System | Engine and transmission |
| Group | P03xx, Ignition and misfires |
| Type | Generic: it means the same on every make |
| Can you keep driving? | Yes, no rush |
What P0382 means
Diesel engines use glow plugs to help them start from cold. The ECU monitors their circuit and has seen something wrong in group or circuit B. Exactly what circuit B covers is decided by each manufacturer.
Most common causes
- Loose or corroded connector on a glow plug
- One or more burnt out glow plugs
- Damaged wiring or a poor earth in the circuit
- Faulty glow plug relay or control module
- Blown fuse in the glow plug circuit
Symptoms
- Hard starting when cold
- White or bluish smoke on start up
- Rough running for the first few seconds
- Engine or glow plug warning light on
Can you drive with P0382?
Yes, no rush Once warm the car drives normally. In cold weather it may struggle to start, so it is worth fixing before winter.
Open the bonnetthe in-depth explanation
How to check it
Ask the garage to measure the resistance of each glow plug with a multimeter: one that reads open circuit has failed. If your reader shows glow plug data, check that the heating time changes with engine temperature.
How to read and clear P0382 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 P0382 with its description and whether it’s confirmed, pending or permanent.
If the engine stores it over standard OBD, with FREE you read this code with its explanation for nothing and clear it. With PRO you also read the faults of every control unit and clear them in all of them.
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 an inspection. It’s all in how to read and clear fault codes and in inspections and OBD.
Similar codes
- P037E The glow plug detection gives a lower signal than normal
- P037F The glow plug detection gives a higher signal than normal
- P0380 Glow plug circuit A fault
- P0381 Glow plug indicator light circuit fault
- P0383 The glow plug control unit 1 control gives a lower signal than normal
- P0384 The glow plug control unit 1 control gives a higher signal than normal
- P0385 The crankshaft position sensor B has an electrical fault
- P0386 The crankshaft position sensor B gives readings outside the normal range
- P0300 Random or multiple cylinder misfire
- P0301 Misfire detected in cylinder 1
- P0302 Misfire detected in cylinder 2
- P0303 Misfire detected in cylinder 3
What does code P0382 mean?
Diesel engines use glow plugs to help them start from cold. The ECU monitors their circuit and has seen something wrong in group or circuit B. Exactly what circuit B covers is decided by each manufacturer.
Can you drive with P0382?
Once warm the car drives normally. In cold weather it may struggle to start, so it is worth fixing before winter.
How do you clear P0382?
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, P0382 comes back.
Read it on your car
Final OBD reads and clears engine faults through standard OBD for free, each one explained in plain English. With PRO it also reads the faults of every control unit, each make’s own codes included, and clears them in all of them.
