warm plug / block heater

[KDurst]

I've been posting here about the cold starting problems I've had with my 03'. I had a fuel heater replaced 3 weeks ago, it started the 1st week without having to plug it in. The following week it started but was rough. A week later it quit starting all together. I had to start plugging it in again.

Last Thursday, I plugged it at work. After starting it, I went to roll up the extension cord. The male plug of the extension cord was pretty warm to the touch. 2 days later, it wouldn't start even with it plugged in. I had to start it with starting fluid to get it to start.

My question is, is there a fuse involved from the plug on the truck to the heater itself? Could my heater be shot (I've only used it the past 2 1/2 months, since I've had the truck for 5 years)?

I checked my 120v cord, I had power to the truck.



These card start issues this year on this truck is getting old!!!!!!!!!

 

[Turbo1Ton]

What gauge wire is the extension cord and how long is it? If the cord is warm it means that it is not sized correctly (or it is on the borderline) to carry the current that the heater is pulling.



Jeff

 

[KDurst]

The cord I use at home, is a 16 gauge 50', the cord I keep in the truck and plug in at work is a 14 gauge 25'. The 14 gauge cord was the one that got warm.

 

[TimothyLong]

The block heaters pull about 6. 5 amps, so either gauge cord should have been sufficient. Perhaps the 14 ga. cord you have been using has been damaged in some way. Also, there is no fuse on the block heater plug. If your block heater was toasted, it shouldn't pull any current (or very little). You might want to check the prongs on the block heater plug. Sometimes, they get corroded and don't make very good contact. That happens to mine occasionally and I just take a small piece of sand paper to them to clean them off.

 

[formula]

It's likely that the extension cord is shot. I've seen a few extension cords where the ends have burned up from a bad connection due to fatigue. Had the plug on the block heater cord on the '93 burn my hand when I went to unplug it. GF's dad insisted on plugging in his 10 wheeler with a 100ft 16ga cord


I'm using a 14ga 25ft "YellowJacket" (from Lowe's) extension cord for my heater on the '05. It doesn't get warm at all.

Probably good to get a new cord and be safe.

 

[hearingyourlies]

Sounds stupid, but checked the batteries?

 

[KDurst]

I'll know today what the problem is. I took it into a diesel shop.

 

[Jeepr]

Isn't the focus on the block heater extension cord irrelevant? Mine starts fine without plugging it in, it just warms up faster.

 

[KDurst]

Yeah, it might be irrelevant, I only mentioned it because I was wondering if there might be a correlation between that and the fuel heater not working.