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What is the order of cylinders on the 3.0L 2987CC V6 Diesel Turbo? I can't seem to find an engine drawing that confirms the order the cylinders are in.
Thanks in advance
Three days ago the yellow glow plug light on my vehicle started to light up intermittently while driving (engine at operating temperature and well after start-up) and now it only briefly turns off after starting up and then remains on for the rest of the trip. The engine also doesn't start as easily as before when cold. I presume it's one or more faulty glow plugs. I hope it's not more than that and I hope driving with the light lit up isn't causing more damage in other areas.
Looking for new glow plugs on-line right now. I find 3 different types, NGK ($51.01), Bosch ($27.60) and one by Standard Motor Products ($28.31). Would anybody care to weigh in on how critical it is which one you use? I plan on replacing all 6 if that is recommended even when only one is faulty. Thank you.
I am still having problems. I replaced the #3 glow plug. Still rough starting. I am now getting code #P0670 Glow plug modular control circuit. Any ideas?
I am still having problems. I replaced the #3 glow plug. Still rough starting. I am now getting code #P0670 Glow plug modular control circuit. Any ideas?
Geoeray, M/B CDI engines do not have "P" codes. They simply have 4 digit codes, but there is no 0670 in the 31 pages of codes nor is there any wording of "modular".
You must get the correct type of scanner to find the correct codes.
The vehicle is back and I checked with my OBDII Autel-Tech scanner this evening. The scanner gives reading: 'U0106 Lost communication with Glow Plug Control Module'. I spent much of today reading up about this issue and it seems the Glow Plug Control Module is much more likely to be faulty than any of the glow plugs. The Control Module currently in the vehicle is 'BERU - A642 900 27 00 - 12V' unit.
The vehicle is back and I checked with my OBDII Autel-Tech scanner this evening. The scanner gives reading: 'U0106 Lost communication with Glow Plug Control Module'. I spent much of today reading up about this issue and it seems the Glow Plug Control Module is much more likely to be faulty than any of the glow plugs. The Control Module currently in the vehicle is 'BERU - A642 900 27 00 - 12V' unit.
The Glow Plug Module has been replaced. Your original part # is now changed to 642 900 77 01.
Thank you for that Major! That's great. I've got the A 642 900 77 01 control unit on order now from Partscontainer on ebay.
Some people say these glow plugs last very well (long) but will still need to be replaced at some point and that when one glow plug fails, you may as well replace them all. I don't want the vehicle to get stuck in the snowy mountains 250 km from home and then having to try to replace a glow plug outside on a cold engine. I'm thinking of replacing all 6 of the 210 000 km old glow plugs now if they're close to the end of their life anyway and keep any old ones that are still good as spare.
Now there are different glow plugs, 4.4V and 7V, ceramic and metal, Bosch, NGK and other brands. They range in price from $51.01 each to $125.00 for a pack of 6. I don't know what I currently have in my vehicle and I'm not keen to remove any just yet because of the worry about a glow plug breaking off inside the cylinder head when trying to remove it. I know the engine should best be at operating temperature when doing the removal to reduce this risk. VIN-4JGBB22E18A434209
Anybody reading this with some experience, please weigh in.
Last edited by 2008 ML 320 CDI; 01-06-2019 at 02:11 PM.
Reason: Correction.
Thank you again. My VIN-4JGBB22E18A434209. (That is the full VIN I believe.)
OK, I shouldn't exceed 25 Nm of torque on the glow plugs so they don't 'tear' off when removing them. Now I know at least when to stop twisting before they break off. Thank you.
According to the Pdf in post-11, there also seems to be another variation on the glow plugs for the 642 engine. Either M8 or M10.
Last edited by 2008 ML 320 CDI; 01-06-2019 at 11:53 AM.
Reason: To add comment to something that was missed before.
Orders placed for 6 pack Glow Plugs & 1 x Glow Plug Control Unit
Once again, thank you very much. I have saved the information.
I've also attached the orders placed for the Glow Plugs and Glow Plug Control Unit. These were the best prices I could find.
CORRECTION on the price for the Glow Plugs: The price for the Glow Plug Control unit is the best I could find, but I may have made a big mistake with the order for the Glow Plugs thinking it was for a pack of six because I was looking at six packs when this item appeared!
Pack of 6 Glow Plugs A 001 159 66 01 for CDN $124.96 on Amazon. Look like they're NGK? Glow Plug Control Unit A 642 900 77 01 - BERU GSE 116 for US $134.61 on ebay.
Last edited by 2008 ML 320 CDI; 01-06-2019 at 04:22 PM.
Reason: Correct mistake.
I cancelled the order for the Glow Plug at CAD $124.96. The Glow Plug Control Unit for US $134.61 is still on order though. I don't think any of the glow plugs come on anymore because the vehicle won't start even though the yellow glow plug symbol still lights up when you turn the ignition to start. Thank goodness this is happening with the vehicle at home in the garage. I just hope that it is indeed a faulty Glow Plug Control Unit only. Tomorrow I'll put the block heater on for 2 hours and then see if it will start. If it turns out that any of the Glow Plugs need to be replaced, I'm in somewhat of a predicament because I will want to run the engine to operating temperature before removing the Glow Plugs.
The wife is not impressed and I haven't even told her yet the unit is only due to arrive somewhere between the 17th and 24th!
I found that this code is a generic code. P0670 Glow plug module control. Seems to be a common problem The Glow plug module has gone bad and is not sending power to the glow plugs. Replacement is easy. Warm the connectors up with a hair dryer or the brittle plastic may break. They removed easily after warming up. Now the engine starts easily and runs smoothly while warming up.
There was a time when I didn't know how to and some may be wondering ...
Yellow Glow Plug Indicator and Check Engine Light remain on after engine start. Error code. OBD II scanner hooked up to OBD II port on 2008 ML W164. Location of OBD II port on 2008 ML W164. Scanner cord connected. OBD II port with flip cover open. Connector on scanner cord that plugs into the OBD II port on the vehicle. Location of the Glow Plug Control Unit in the engine bay (2008 ML W164) Glow Plug Control Unit - BERU A-642-900-27-00 with white plastic cover. The replacement part is currently part No. A-642-900-77-01.
While I'm waiting for the new Glow Plug Control Unit to arrive, we're using the engine block heater for 1 to 2 hours before starting the car in the morning to pre-warm the engine coolant (and engine oil). The car then starts immediately just like it usually does when there is no issue with the glow plugs/control unit. I never realized just what a difference the block heater makes because the vehicle always started just as easily with or without the use of the block heater when the control unit and glow plugs work.
If the new glow plug control unit solves the current issue, I'll open up the old unit and post some photos.
Last edited by 2008 ML 320 CDI; 01-17-2019 at 08:33 PM.
The Glow Plug Control Module that I ordered has arrived. I'm not sure though that the new part is the correct part for my 2008 ML 320 CDI.
The part that I ordered was advertised as BERU GSE 116 / 642 900 77 01.
The part that got delivered is BERU GSE116 0522140710. Looking online, this delivered part is given to be NOT COMPATIBLE with my vehicle.
I can fortunately still easily start the vehicle by using the block heater for 2 hours in advance of starting, but the duration of any stops is restricted to about 1 hour so the engine doesn't cool down too much.
Today I removed the Glow Plug for cylinder No. 5 to see what it is currently installed.
Glow plug as first removed from cylinder head and before cleaning.
Part No. on Glow Plug A 001 159 58 01. This is a 7 Volt, M8 x 1.0 mm thread.
Glow Plug tip.
Connector end of Glow Plug.
Resistance of 1.1 Ohm measured across glow plug as seen in photo above. The multi-meter has an 'inherent' reading of 0.8 Ohm when the red and black probes are held together. Deducting 0.8 from 1.1 results in a true value of 0.3 Ohm which is the actual resistance of the glow plug. That would also correlate with the 0.3 Ohm rating given online for new replacement glow plugs.
Actual resistance for glow plug equals 0.4 Ohm (1.2 Ohm reading minus 0.8 Ohm 'inherent' resistance of the multi-meter).
In the picture is the Glow Plug Control Module that has been in the vehicle for at least the last 100 000 km. The correct new replacement part No. for this part is A 642 900 77 01.
In the picture is the Glow Plug Control Module - BERU GSE 116 / 0522140710 - that was delivered when the order was placed for the advertised BERU 116 / 642 900 77 01 part. It is uncertain whether the part in the picture is compatible with my 2008 ML 320 CDI.
(2018-01-23 Edit: I later discovered the real cause of the problem and it was not a faulty Glow Plug Control Module. I also installed the part in the picture and it turns out to be perfectly compatible with my 2008 ML 320 CDI 160 kW V6)
Last edited by 2008 ML 320 CDI; 01-24-2019 at 12:05 AM.
Loose earth connection the cause of CEL & Glow Plug light error
I found the cause of the CEL and Glow Plug Light error. It was a very slightly loose earth wire connection to the cylinder head combined with a wee bit of corrosion. Cleaned it up with some sandpaper and tightened the bolt securely and the error code, CEL and Glow Plug light error are all gone! In the end it didn't have to cost a cent! I now have 6 new glow plugs installed when that wasn't the problem.
This earth wire lug to the cylinder head was slightly loose and had a little bit of corrosion causing a poor electrical connection to the cylinder head. Cleaning it up and tightening the bolt cleared the error code, CEL and Glow Plug light error.
Probably, but I hadn't recently done any work to the car except for oil and filter changes - so it would have had to have been due to work done much longer ago.
This error code took me a period of 23 days to solve. Through the process of finding the fault I did some tests on 3 Glow Plug Control Modules ( 2 new ones and the original one, which turned out not to be faulty) that might prove useful to check the Module against in the future. It was difficult to decide whether to buy a new Module, or whether an advertised Module was the correct one, when you aren't even sure that the old one is faulty, but what do you check your current Module against? My old Module turned out to be good, so I'm not opening it up. I also took some measurements and readings on the new Glow Plugs. I'll post this all with photos when I have the photos marked up.
I relied heavily on the accurate information provided by you, Maj. Dundee. Thank you.
Probably, but I hadn't recently done any work to the car except for oil and filter changes - so it would have had to have been due to work done much longer ago.
This error code took me a period of 23 days to solve. Through the process of finding the fault I did some tests on 3 Glow Plug Control Modules ( 2 new ones and the original one, which turned out not to be faulty) that might prove useful to check the Module against in the future. It was difficult to decide whether to buy a new Module, or whether an advertised Module was the correct one, when you aren't even sure that the old one is faulty, but what do you check your current Module against? My old Module turned out to be good, so I'm not opening it up. I also took some measurements and readings on the new Glow Plugs. I'll post this all with photos when I have the photos marked up.
I relied heavily on the accurate information provided by you, Maj. Dundee. Thank you.
12-21-2018, 10:34 AM
