Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Need help trouble shooting a block heater

[tmacc]

For some reason my block heater stopped working recently. It was working a couple of weeks ago ,but it wouldn't work this weekend or since. I replaced the plug end and ohm tested from the plug to the screw on connector at the heater and all checked out. Is there a ohm reading for the heater itself? any other suggestions?

TIA Tom

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

IF you can check the heating element directly at the block - I've never used mine or looked at it closely - it would read out very low on the ohm scale - about 20 ohms or so... Of course, with a good cord and plug, you should get that same reading at the plug end as well...

 

[tmacc]

Thanks Gary,

That's the info I'm looking for. However, I hope it's not bad. We aren't exactly having the kind of weather I'd like have to be working on the truck in the carport. Yesterday was 15* and it started fine, but that won't last long. Heat wave today. 28*

I'll post what I find out.

Tom

 

[ThrottleJockey]

Leave it in the block and go buy the big one from NAPA for school buses with the 5. 9 block.



It goes into one of the big freeze plug holes on the passenger side of the block. That bad boy is 1500 watts.





Mmmmm Toasty.

 

[tmacc]

That bad boy is 1500 watts. Mmmmm Toasty.

LOL. Thanks TJ. Good suggestion. Apparently, the OEM is shot. Zilch when I put the ohm meter on it. Checked the cord again just to make sure and it was fine.



I installed a block heater similar to the one your describing in our diesel tractor and it worked like a charm. I'm sure the one from NAPA costs a lot less that DC.

 

[bmoeller]

I had tp replace a heater on one of the skid loader last winter. Corrosion had eaten a hole into the element, and took it out.

 

[tmacc]

NAPA block heater=$46

DC block heater=$32

Shocking! lol I'll have to look and see which one is easier to install. The OEM works fine, but I doubt it's even close to 1500 watts. 1500 watts might come in handy on those -10* mornings. Now, if it would only heat the fuel line. That would be sweet.

 

[bmoeller]

IIRC, the stocker is 750 or 1k watts.

 

[tmacc]

Looks like I'll be going w/ the OEM just due to time constraints etc. The freeze plugs are behind the oil cooler and some other plumbing that looks like it would be a PITA to work around on a winter's day. The OEM un-screws. Of course it could be that trying to get a wrench in there could be the bigger PITA, so we'll see.

 

[tmacc]

Well,... . As the saying goes, " If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. " Went to the dealer to get the BH that was coming from another dealership and it must have been for a gas engine. Not even close. They had a CTD BH in stock though for a measely $66. This was one of the easier parts R&Rs. 1-1/8" socket and it was done. The old one didn't look bad, but still wouldn't give an ohm reading. The new one read in the 20 Ohm range just like Gary said. We'll see how it works in the morning. Thanks all.