Block Heater, Smoked & Barbequed(well done)

[Buffalo]

Last week, it cooled down a bit, here in Phoenix (yah, sure), and I thought I'd try my block heater to see how well it worked. Plugged it into the HD extention cord and it, immediately, blew the circuit breaker and my block heater. Big cloud of white smoke came out of the right side of the trucks engine compartment. It's a 20 amp. circuit breaker and the polarity checks out OK. 31,000 miles on the '03, 3500. I've never read of anyone blowing one of these up. Any of You guy's heard of this happening? Thanks. Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[ScottBrown]

It is just a heating element dont know where the smoke came from, unless it shorted near the fan shroud. Read sometime back a couple of folks were having similar problems, due to improper routing of the ac cord. Take it back to the dealer you bought it from and have them replace it. under warranty

 

[MCabrera]

How cold was it? I tried mine a couple of weeks ago, you know when it got REAL COLD here in Phoenix. It worked pretty good. Wait to start light only took about 3-4 seconds. Were did you buy your truck?

 

[CLAYTON]

How cold was it? I tried mine a couple of weeks ago, you know when it got REAL COLD here in Phoenix. It worked pretty good. Wait to start light only took about 3-4 seconds. Were did you buy your truck?

"REAL COLD" in Phoenix. . that's hard to believe

 

[Buffalo]

MCabrera,



I bought it at Tempe Dodge, 12/31/02. It's been a good truck other than a few minor problems. I'm up on the NW side of town. How about You? Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[DIESELMAN]

YOU SISSIES!!!!! Y'all stay down there ya here! Don't come up the mountain, its winter up here you know. Better wrap your pipes, those 40 degree nights are vicious, and bring in the dogs, better make it a three dog night down there in the valley of the smog.

 

[MCabrera]

Ya I here ya Dieselman, Just a little sarcasm because its oh' so cold here in the valley. We usually go up north to Morman Lake and the Cinders, we love it up there.

Buffalo, I'm in the southwest side of town. I also bought my truck at Tempe Dodge and let me tell you, I no longer go there for any kind of service. Those guys are terrible, (in my opinion). So I'm headed to Avondale Dodge tonight. I think my ball joints are going bad. When I hit a bump as small as a speed bump, I can hear a "clank" noise from the front end.

 

[klenger]

You guys in Phoenix don't know what cold is. It's usually 3 degrees cooler here in Tucson than Phoenix because of our high altitude.



By the way, I finally figured out what the funny light is for on the dash when it gets cold out. I'm referring to the light that is yellow and looks sort of light a light bulb filiment. It's real function is to tell you that it's cold enough outside to put on a light vest when you go to work.

 

[DIESELMAN]

You SISSIES in Tucson need FOUR Dogs at night, course those Chihuahua Taco Dogs just aren't very BIG!!



MCabrera - I live at 7200' due West of the Cinders on the slopes of the peaks, I watch the Dust trails go DOWN and the Ambulances go UP every summer , my son and I also ride our machines out there from the house, It beats 120 degree sand dunes any day in the summer! Check your sway-bar end links too

 

[LightmanE300]

LOL ya, Arizona sounds really , really chilly :-laf

 

[ScottBrown]

If I was down you way this time of year, there would be a puddle of antifreeze everywhere I stand from the sweat in those 40 F temps. Your cold days are a good summer day up here. :-laf