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Block heater working or not????

17K views 10 replies 6 participants last post by  runit02  
#1 ·
I'm in N. Florida and believe it or not we are having 30 degree nights already and I have been plugging my block heater cord in with a timer on it. It's set to turn on 1.5 hours before I start it. The issue is when I start the truck...its still cold. Is it supposed to "heat" the block or what? Should the temp guage move when I start it or not? Is there a fuse somewhere or can the block heater go bad? Help me out.

Mutch
 
#2 ·
You can't see it on the gauge but my heat is a little warm right out of the gate. Probably the easiest way to tell is if your "Wait to start" light comes on. The grid heater on our truck won't light above 65* coolant temp.

Also when I first plug mine in I can actually hear the water around the heater boiling, least that's what it sounds like. It's a hiss, like a coffee maker.
 
#3 ·
I don't hear anything. My "wait to start" light comes on in the dead of summer when its 98 degrees out. It just goes off after 3 sec's. Now it stays on for about 20 sec's. Is there a fuse for this that I can check? Does anyone know which one it is? Does anyone else hear theres start when they plug it in?
 
#4 ·
The three second light is a bulb check only, but 20 seconds is the grid heater lighting and that tells me that no your block heater isn't working.

There's no fuse, the plug just goes straight to the block heater. First things first, plug something like a lamp into the cord you're using, make sure that yes you do have power. Then follow your cord to the block heater and make sure it's still connected there. If you have power and if you're still plugged in then you may need a new heater element.
 
#5 ·
I would ditch the timer, and just leave it plugged in all night. It warms slowly and pulls little current; it's likely not getting fully warmed up in just 1.5 hours.
I had mine plugged in last night, it was around 30 degrees. I can turn the key and start immediately; no wait to start light, as it has been warming up all night.
 
#7 ·
I'll do all that tonight!

1.) Check the cord. (make sure it's plugged in the block)
2.) Ditch the timmer. ( I know it works, I plug my shop fan in after I unplug truck in the mornin)
3.) Stay with me and I'll update you tomorrow.

:thumbsup:
 
#8 ·
I plug mine in all night and the engine is warm even the valve cover. Takes about a
block to feel heat coming from the vents instead of 6 miles. Someone on this forum
said the elements are 750 watts. I'm going to order the bumper plug from Genos so its
easier to plug in.
 
#9 · (Edited)
Anyone have the resistance of the heater element? My truck is new to me and its getting cold. I wana make sure its good now before it gets any colder.

Further investigation:

750 watts
120 volts
6.25 amps
19.2 Ohms

Please correct if wrong.
 
#10 ·
had to be the timer. Hooked it up all night directly to wall and had a hot valve cover.