Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Block heater ???

[marksmith]

I plugged my block heater in last night just for giggles. (It only got to about 30 degrees) This morning when I fired her up, I couldn't tell any differance. Is there supposed to be a differance or is something wrong w/my block heater. It even took the same amount of time to get the temp guage up to normal. That is about 7 miles from the house.



Just curious. Thanks in advance

Mark

 

[cD'amato]

Weird

30 degrees and you didnt notice the wait to start light disappear quicker and heat come up faster... ... theres something wrong somewhere. If I plug mine in when its 30 degrees it makes a huge difference in starting and heating up! Get it checked.



-Chris

 

[Pit Bull]

You should see the wait to start light go off all most immediately when you leave it plugged in for at least 2 hours.

 

[GBerry]

?

doesn't sound right to me ?... the couple of times I plugged mine in with similar and lower temps the temp gauge was 3/16 to 1/4 the way up at start up..... although its been a while sense I last used it thats what I remember. The temp seemed to be up to full operating temp in ruffly half the drive time. maybe you need to get it checked ? don't know how to check it myself maybe someone else here will know how to check it???

what do ya GUYs say ??

Guy

 

[Alan Reagan]

If I plug mine in, I have heat when I crank it up. It's not hot but it's warm air coming out of the vents in short order.

 

[marksmith]

Thank you guys for the quick responses and please keep them coming. The reason I didn't take it to the dealer and ask them about it is because other than the incompetant S. O. B's that I bought the truck from, the closest dealer is in Eugene, OR. That is 70 miles from the house. And I am not even sure if I want to take it to them.



So the saying is very true for me. I AM my own warranty station. It doesn't bother me too much. I have most tools to do everything that I wish to do. I just need to find out how to check this this thing to make sure it is working, or if I need to replace it.

Thanks again for all the help



Mark

 

[Phil Stuart]

block heater

My Wait To Start light will go out almost immediately after I turn the key to run position just prior to starting if the block heater has been plugged in for at least two hours.



Also when you first plug it in listen for a gurgling or percolating sound coming from the heater element itself, that's the element getting hot.



It draws 700 watts so you can also tell by looking at your electric meter on the house



Phil

 

[BBotte]

My block heater stopped working a couple nights ago. Does anyone know how to take the cord off the block heater element so that I can test it?

 

[illflem]

Originally posted by BBotte

My block heater stopped working a couple nights ago. Does anyone know how to take the cord off the block heater element so that I can test it?

Just pull it off. Some have a knurled ring that unscrews by hand. Most of the time the cord or your power source is the problem.



Two simple ways to tell if your block heater works-- if it's dark enough you'll see a spark when you plug it in or when you first plug it in you'll hear a hissing boiling water sound.

 

[marksmith]

Thanks for the replies guys



Tonight I plugged it in again just for giggles, there was spark and then the gurgling sound started so I assume that it is working. I will know for sure in the morning. I don't have a problem starting when it drops to the upper twenties, so is it better to use the block heater??? I think I found my previous problem, though. I think that the block heater is tripping the GFI outlets I have on the outside of the house. Reason being is the freezer wasn't working this afternoon and I had to reset the outlet to turn it back on. All this work for such a simple mistake. For now I have the cord run through a window to an interior outlet and I will see what happens tomorrow morning.



Again, Thanks for the help

Mark

 

[DBeeman]

Even at -10F, my wait to start light goes out much quicker. I am hoping to get an oil pan heater on mine this weekend, as well as a transmission heater. Supposed to get cold next week, got up to 5 above today.



Dave

 

[Ted Constantine]

Mark the outlet that is now in front of my truck has proven to be testy. I have to plug the extention cord into the outlet and then the heater to the cord. If I plug the cord to the truck and then to the outlet the spark will trip the GFI. His was not the case in the past but this GFI circuit must have more of a load on it. Also in the past when I have blown GFI's it was time to take the extention cord inside and thaw it out.



You will see a major difference in how the truck starts and when it is really cold out I feel bad for the truck when I start it without the block heater It makes death growls and acts really pi$$ed.



How long was your truck plugged in?? Do you have it on a timer?



Ted



Edit: Dave what kind of pan heater are you installing?? I looked at alot of options last winter in MT but never got one. Warm oil would be very nice

 

[DBeeman]

They are just little rubber electric blankets, you hold them in place with high temp RTV, and duct tape until the RTV sets up, I think they are 70 watts each, measure 2"x4" with a normal 3 prong plug, cost me about 10 bucks each. I am holding out to see if I can get by without having to add battery blankets. I really need to install a high idle unit, instead of the calibrated stick and seat method.



Dave

 

[marksmith]

Well she was plugged in for about 4 hours give or take thirty minutes. I got home at midnight, took all my stuff in and threw all the stuff I needed for the next day into the cab and plugged her in, there was ice on the little pickup next to mine. (this is with a warm block mind you) The next morning I jumped into 'er at 4:30, fired 'er up and she was COLD. No difference IMHO than any other time. Like I said, I believe that I tripped the GFI and didn't realize it. I am hoping that is what happened.



What temps do you recommend plugging in at??? Just curious. She does grumble and gripe for about five minutes normally when I would fire it up when it is about thirty. It doesn't get very much colder here. I might see two weeks total of temps below thirty.



Thank you again for the help, I appreciate it.

Mark

 

[illflem]

The temp you plug in at really depends on how much you want to spend on power. At the national average of 5¢/kwh it will cost you 35¢ every ten hours. These trucks will start just fine without plugging in down to about 15° but the wear on the grid heater system, batteries and engine might not be worth it. Saving on the grid heater system will preserve it for the time when you don't have a place to plug in. Some over the road truckers I know like to plug in below 60°, I like to plug in below 40°. If you drive at a set time a timer is in order, 2 - 4 hours before starting depending on the temperature is plenty. Leaving it plugged in for days on end will only hurt your pocket book, nothing else. With my trucks plugged in for 4 hours before starting I've never had to use the grid heaters even down to -20°.

 

[Neal Cassady]

Try This

Mark,



My problem was the plug at the cord end. I had an intermittent open on the neutral wire. I could get continuity by wiggling the plug end. I cut the plug off and replaced it with a new one. When I removed the factory plug quite a few of the strands were broken and lots of chalky deposits and quite a bit of moisture.



Neal

 

[marksmith]

Well guys thanks for the help



It seems that my mistake of not checking the GFI was the problem. Went out this morning and she fired right up. The wait to start stayed on for two or three seconds and then she fired right up w/o a hitch. I guess from now on I will have to double check the GFI if I am going to plug her in.



Thanks again, you all have been very helpful.



Mark