Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) How to test for bad block heater

[EricBu12]

Hey guys,



Think my block heater is Kaput... 7 hours running and coolant is cold in radiator. how do you test to see if it is bad? ohm meter?. . thanks in advance.

 

[mhenon]

Check the outlet you plugged into. Make sure it was hot!

Mike

 

[DWeiler]

i can hear mine start to work and run when plugged in,a slight buzz or hum/crackle

 

[master1578]

I'm not sure how to test it, but when mine wasn't working it ended up being the cord (block heater not extension). FWIW the cummins parts guy told me never to start the truck with the heater plugged in??? Can't remember exactly why though. I don't do that anyway... . well except for this one time when I drove away with the cord still attached... . which of course brings us back to needing a new cord... :-laf

Check the outlet you plugged into. Make sure it was hot!

Oh, that reminds me of a story... .

A few years ago I had to go to a job along the PA/NY boarder. Well of course it was the dead of winter. Well we pull into a motel that happens to have outlets to plug in the truck (95 powerhoax) This is great! The next morning we come out, I think it was single digits, the truck has no intention of going anywhere. Guess what no power in the outlet :{ We decided to plug the truck into our generator... . not gonna happen that ain't starting either. Then, just out of curiosity I took a drill to plug into another outlet and... . you guessed it. It works! Turns out we picked the one dead outlet to plug the truck into. Ahhh the memories... .

 

[B.G. Smith]

Hey guys,



Think my block heater is Kaput... 7 hours running and coolant is cold in radiator. how do you test to see if it is bad? ohm meter?. . thanks in advance.

With an ohm meter set on about 200 ohm scale, check across the two flat blades on the plug. If no resistance, remove the cord (unscrew the cap at block and pull out) and check continuity of the wires, if they are ok, heater is open (bad). bg