Heater Grid Assembly Problem

[Idaho Native]

#ad
Yes, this is embarrassing... but probably a lot less so since joining TDR. If you suspect your heater grid operation, check your heater grid connection to the battery closely!!

I bought my pickup new in Nov 98... it was assembled in Sep 98. I've only put a little over 30K on it since I bought it. I noticed this winter, which has been quite a bit colder than the previous two here in the Omaha area, that it didn't like to start very well below 20 degrees after sitting outside at work all day. I would even cycle the heaters twice sometimes. I'd seen a thread about guys getting their rigs started at temps down to 0 or below without the aid of being plugged in, so I figured I had a problem. Sure enough!

I talked to KatDiesel off line about it last night and started to trouble shoot my heater grid, which I suspected of being inoperative. The battery voltage didn't ever drop like others said and the lights didn't dim at night after a cold start. It would smoke quite heavily and make plenty of noise #ad
which the guys at work loved to give me heck about. NOTE: I found that the Wait to Start light is tied to a timer and head water temp sender, completely independent of the heater grid, so the Wait to Start light will give the indications that the grid is working no matter what. I normally plug it in at night so when I go to start, so the light would extinguish almost immediately and the engine starts with no smoke.

Today, I went out at lunch with another TDR member (JAKEBUD) who just took delivery of his 2001 Cummins and compared the wiring under the hood. In tracing the wires from the heater grid harness, I found mine to lead UNDER the left battery. My buddy's was connected directly to the hot positive side of his battery. We removed my battery hold downs and pulled the wire out from under it... appears that it had NEVER BEEN CONNECTED at the factory!!! #ad


I'm wondering how many years of life I took off the poor Cummins by doing all those "cold" starts. I started it once in Dec of 98 after it had sat for a week at 7 degrees. I cycled the heaters twice (or so I thought) and it still didn't like to run. No frickin' wonder!!! #ad
Took about a half dozen attempts before it would go.

Hope no one else has this to find this after owing a diesel for two years. My previous diesel experience was with Caterpillars on the farm... they all had gas starting motors so this little "problem" never cropped up.

TDR connections may have saved my bacon on this one... thanks to KatDiesel and JAKEBUD!

Loren



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1999 24V 2500 QC HD,5 Spd, Luverne Steps, Predator Topper, Engine Unbombed (not for long)
1995 Impala SS, Dark Cherry Metallic
1995 Dutchmen 26 foot travel trailer (the reason for the diesel!!)
1997 Honda Shadow ACE 1100
(Too Many Toys

 

[Guest00]

Glad you got your problem solved.
About time you cut loose with the $35. #ad

Well spent for shure.