In older diesels, glow plugs only activated for 10–30 seconds before starting the engine to heat the combustion chamber. Once the engine was running, the glow plugs turned off.
For many drivers, seeing a "B" code is frightening, as these are traditionally reserved for Body Control Module (BCM) issues rather than engine performance. However, in the context of Peugeot, Citroën, and DS Automobiles, the B173D code has a very specific and common meaning: .
If you own a modern Peugeot equipped with a BlueHDi diesel engine, you may have recently been startled by the sudden illumination of the dreaded engine management light (often called the "orange anti-pollution light"). When you plug in an OBD2 scanner, the code that appears is often cryptic: B173D Peugeot . b173d peugeot
Do not ignore it. A $40 glow plug and an hour of careful labor today will save you from a $2,000 cylinder head repair tomorrow. If you are uncomfortable removing glow plugs from a hot engine (given their tendency to snap), pay an independent diesel specialist who has experience with Peugeot BlueHDi engines.
Remember the golden rule of owning a modern diesel: In older diesels, glow plugs only activated for
Due to the carbon buildup mentioned earlier, the tip of the glow plug fuses to the aluminum cylinder head. When you apply brute force with a wrench, the glow plug shears off, leaving the threaded body inside the head. Removing a snapped glow plug requires specialized tools (extractors) and sometimes removing the entire cylinder head, which costs $1,500+.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Always consult your vehicle's service manual and follow safety procedures. Torque specifications vary by engine code (DV6C, DV6D, DW10). However, in the context of Peugeot, Citroën, and
This article will leave no stone unturned. We will explain exactly what this code means, the specific symptoms you will feel (and not feel), the step-by-step diagnostic process, the most likely culprits, and how to fix it permanently. To understand this fault, you must first forget everything you know about old diesel engines.