block heater maybe dead?

[mazdarotary]

Hello again all,

Here is what happened. This morning i went out to the truck to head off to work. I went over to the block heater cord and un plugged it. This morning it didn't feel warm (the cord that is) like it has been lately. I thought this was wierd. I then went in and started the truck but the wait to start light stayed on and i could hear the grid heaters working. Now this truck had been plugged in all night but I had the timer set for only a few hours before i get up. It wasn't even that cold this morning. Could my block heater be dead. I know the cord from my time clock was good because it is the kind of cord with a light built into the end. Should my cord from the BH have been getting warm before?Maybe I need a new cord cap on the BH cord?I never noticed the cord getting hot last winter but then again I wasn't really paying attention. I know the BH isn't absolutly needed but I do like having heat earlier. Thanks for any help.



Chris

92 D250 CC NV4500

74 MAZDA Rotary engined truck

83 RX-7 limited edition

00 Mazda Protege ES "hers"

 

[SRadke]

Test the two prongs of the block heater with an ohm meater. If it shows resistance it is still good. If no resistance unplug the cord from the heater unit itself and try those two prongs. This will isolate whether it's the heater or the cord. Don't worry about the warm cord, that's normal.



-Scott

 

[banzaitoyota]

Perhaps you blew an APEX Seal?

 

[mazdarotary]

Nahh Banzai I woulda burned my lips doing that

 

[CDegner]

I had to replace the plug on mine a couple weeks ago. One night it worked, the next it did not.



BTW, I just used a weatherprrof plug from the hardware store. I made it even more weather resistant with the liberal application of silcone.



Carl

 

[formula]

I had to replace the plug on mine last winter. The wires were frayed right next to the plug, which was the cause of it getting hot. Final straw was getting shocked while unplugging it



Sean

 

[mazdarotary]

well I checked the prongs of the plug and i had an ohm reading. I then checked at the heater itself,and had a an ohm reading. I then checked from the cord end to the end that attaches to the heater to see if the cord was ok,and that checked out. I am at a loss here guys.





Chris

 

[banzaitoyota]

No technical help here,,,sorry. BUT maybe its a sign yoou should move out of TAXA-Chussetts and head south to warmer climates?

 

[Greenleaf]

Hey Sean. Is that NOT the way to check for power???? That's how I know my tractor's magneto is firing both cylinders!







Scott

 

[RGT]

you may have a broken wire that is showing continuity when you test it but fails when under load and depending on position, before I replaced mine this year the old one would sometimes show a little spark through the cracked insulation when I unplugged it in the dark... try wiggling the cord while you test it... I think I paid $13 at the Cummins dealer for the new cord... .

 

[Paychk]

Could the timer have died?

 

[mazdarotary]

no.



The light on the end of the cord was lit therefore I was getting power out there.