P269E: Exhaust Aftertreatment Glow Plug Control Circuit High

When the exhaust glow plug control circuit reads close to battery voltage at the wrong moment, the control side has contact with a positive feed or the switching stage hangs open, so the vaporizer glow plug may stay energized or ignore commands. On Ford's 3.2 L Transit diesel the 2017 and 2018 summaries set P269E once the circuit holds between 10.9 and 12.32 V for 5 s with the ignition on. The predecessor years filed this under P2689, together with the relay plausibility check that later became P26A0. A glow element that heats without stopping wears out quickly and can draw fuel-free current for long periods, so a later open element code may follow. Regeneration is curtailed and the MIL comes on.

Low severity. Can I keep driving?You can keep driving, although cold starts will be harder. Avoid cranking the starter repeatedly on cold days.

Symptoms

MIL on
Glow plug failing early from constant heating
Regeneration curtailed

Most likely causes

Control wire shorted to a battery-fed circuit
Relay contacts welded, glow plug permanently powered
Output stage in the engine computer defective

What to check, in order

Start with the simplest. You can tick off each step.

Check the fuse and connector
Check the sensor's ground and make sure the signal wire is not receiving voltage from another circuit.
Measure the resistance of each glow plug with the engine cold
Check the power supply during the preheat cycle
Test the module or relay if the glow plugs are good

Good to know

Repair difficulty: medium
It affects emissions.

What each character of P269E means

P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
2: Generic code: same on every make
6: Control modules and outputs
9E: Specific fault in that system

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P269E?

You can keep driving, although cold starts will be harder. Avoid cranking the starter repeatedly on cold days.

What causes code P269E?

The most common causes are: control wire shorted to a battery-fed circuit; relay contacts welded, glow plug permanently powered; output stage in the engine computer defective.

Related codes

Sources

Values and procedures vary by manufacturer. If it affects brakes, steering, fuel or high voltage, see a professional. Updated: 2026-11-04. How we build these pages.