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Change Car Glow Plugs

Intermediate 1h00–2h00 ~100–200£
Estimated time 1h00–2h00
Estimated labour cost ~100–200£
Difficulty Intermediate
Vehicles
Civic IX 2012-2016 2
  • 1.6 16V i-CDTi Diesel (N16A1)
  • 2.2 16V i-DTEC Diesel (N22B4)
Civic VII 2000-2006 1
  • 1.7 16V CTDi Diesel (4EE2)
Civic VIII 2006-2011 1
  • 2.2 16V i-CDTi Diesel (N22A2)

What is the role of Honda Civic glow plugs?

Glow plugs are used in diesel engines to preheat the combustion chamber before starting, particularly in cold weather. Unlike petrol engines that use spark plugs to ignite the fuel, diesel engines rely on compression ignition. Modern glow plugs also remain active after starting to reduce emissions and noise during the warm-up phase.

When should you change your Honda Civic glow plugs?

Generally, glow plugs last between 80,000 and 160,000 km. Symptoms of failing glow plugs include: difficulty starting in cold weather, white or grey exhaust smoke on start-up, rough idle during warm-up, the glow plug warning light remaining illuminated, and increased fuel consumption.

How do I know if the Honda Civic glow plugs need changing?

Via the EOBD diagnostic system, faulty glow plugs will trigger fault codes (typically P0380–P0384 for glow plug circuit faults). Individual glow plug resistance can be measured with a multimeter (typically 0.5–2 ohms for a good plug).

Is it difficult to change Honda Civic glow plugs?

Difficulty level 3/5: intermediate. Glow plugs can seize in the cylinder head over time due to heat and corrosion, making removal difficult and risking breakage. Key steps: warm the engine first, apply penetrating oil, use the correct glow plug socket, unscrew carefully (do not force — a broken glow plug requires specialist extraction).

11 models covered

Model Year Range Engines covered Fuel
Civic I 1973-1980 1973-1980 1.2 8V Petrol (EB2), 1.2 8V Petrol (EB3) Petrol
Civic II 1980-1983 1980-1983 1.3 8V Petrol (EN1), 1.3 8V Petrol (EN2) Petrol
Civic III 1984-1987 1984-1987 1.2 8V Petrol (ZA1), 1.3 12V Petrol (EV2 (D13A2)), 1.5 8V Petrol (EW2), 1.5 GT 12V Petrol (EW3), 1.5 GTi 12V Petrol (EW4) Petrol
Civic IV 1988-1993 1988-1993 1.6i 16V CAT Petrol (D16A6), 1.6i 16V Petrol (D16A7), 1.6i 16V Petrol (D16Z2) Petrol
Civic IX 2012-2016 2012-2016 1.4 16V i-VTEC Petrol (L13Z4), 1.6 16V i-CDTi Diesel (N16A1), 1.6 16V Petrol (R16B1), 1.8 16V i-VTEC Bioethanol (E85),Petrol (R18Z1), 1.8 16V i-VTEC Petrol (R18Z4), 2.2 16V i-DTEC Diesel (N22B4), Type R(2.0 16V) Petrol (K20C1) Bioethanol (E85), Diesel, Petrol
Civic V 1991-1995 1991-1995 1.3 16V Petrol (D13B2), 1.5i 16V Petrol (D15B2), 1.5i 16V Petrol (D15B7), 1.5i 16V VEi Petrol (D15Z1), 1.5i 16V VEi Petrol (D15Z1), 1.6i 16V DOHC Petrol (D16A8), 1.6i 16V Petrol (D16A7), 1.6i 16V VTEC Petrol (D16Z6) Petrol
Civic VI 1995-2001 1995-2001 1.4i 16V Petrol (D14A3), 1.4i 16V Petrol (D14A4), 1.4i 16V S Petrol (D14A2), 1.4i 16V, -LPG LPG,Petrol (D14A8), 1.5i 16V LS Petrol (D15Z6), 1.5i 16V VE Petrol (D15Z3), 1.5i 16V VTEC Petrol (D15Z8), 1.6 16V VTi Petrol (B16A2), 1.6i 16V ES Petrol (D16Y5), 1.6i 16V LS Petrol (D16Y3… LPG, Petrol
Civic VII 2000-2006 2000-2006 1.3 8V IMA e:Hev Electricity,Petrol (LDA1 (MF3)), 1.4 16V Petrol (D14Z5), 1.4 16V Petrol (D14Z6), 1.6 16V VTEC Petrol (D16V1), 1.6 16V VTEC Petrol (D16W7), 1.7 16V CTDi Diesel (4EE2), 1.7 16V Petrol (D17A8), 1.7 16V VTEC Petrol (D17A2), 1.7 16V VTEC Petrol (D17A9), 2.0 16V i-VTE… Diesel, Electricity, Petrol
Civic VIII 2006-2011 2006-2011 1.4 16V i-VTEC Petrol (L13Z1), 1.4 8V i-DSi Petrol (L13A7), 1.8 16V i-VTEC Petrol (R18A2), 2.2 16V i-CDTi Diesel (N22A2), Type R(2.0 16V) Petrol (K20Z4) Diesel, Petrol
Civic VIII 2006-2012 2006-2012 1.3 8V IMA e:Hev Electricity,Petrol (LDA2 (MF5)), 1.8S 16V Bioethanol (E85),Petrol (R18A1), 1.8S 16V Petrol (R18A2) Bioethanol (E85), Electricity, Petrol
Civic X 2016-2025 2016-2025 1.0 12V Petrol (P10A4), 1.0 12V VTEC Petrol (P10A2), 1.5 16V VTEC Turbo Petrol (L15BA), 1.5 16V VTEC Turbo Petrol (L15BB), 1.6 16V i-CDTi Diesel (N16A1), Type R (2.0 16V) Petrol (K20C1) Diesel, Petrol