P26A0: Exhaust Aftertreatment Glow Plug Performance

P26A0 says the exhaust glow plug system does not perform as intended, even if no electrical fault is present. Ford gives the clearest picture for the 3.2 L Transit diesel: from the 2017 summary on, the code is set when the feedback of the vaporizer glow plug relay disagrees with its command for roughly 60 s while the key is on, a fault filed under P2689 in earlier years. Ford bulletin 18-2094, superseded by 19-2016, covers 2016–2018 Transits built up to 13 February 2018 that light the MIL with P26A0 and/or P24A0. When these are the only codes, the fix is a new fuel vaporizer glow plug plus a powertrain module update, and the newer bulletin adds checking a 3 A and a 20 A mini fuse. A failing plug starves the regeneration of heat, which is why P24A0 often appears alongside.

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
Exhaust temperature control code P24A0 stored too
Regenerations take longer or fail

Most likely causes

Fuel vaporizer glow plug degraded
Outdated engine module calibration
Blown fuse or relay feedback not matching the command

What to check, in order

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

Check the fuse and connector
Compare the reading with other engine data while varying the engine speed.
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 P26A0 means

P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
2: Generic code: same on every make
6: Control modules and outputs
A0: Specific fault in that system

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P26A0?

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

What causes code P26A0?

The most common causes are: fuel vaporizer glow plug degraded; outdated engine module calibration; blown fuse or relay feedback not matching the command.

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.