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block heater problem

Old Dec 25, 2014 | 01:17 AM
  #1  
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block heater problem

i plugged my truck in last night and it began to smoke behind the drivers head light, i unplugged and investigated and got nothing, i tried plugging in again and it would trip my gfci on the house. any thoughts>?
 
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Old Dec 25, 2014 | 01:42 AM
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I wouldn't plug it in again?
 
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Old Dec 25, 2014 | 01:45 AM
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i didnt after that but any thoughts on why smoke from behind headlight? im gunna pull the block heater and test it out of the truck
 
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Old Dec 25, 2014 | 08:49 AM
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if smoke came from behind the driver side headlight, i would say the block heater is most likely fine and the problem is with the wire.
i would unplug the wire from the block heater and test/inspect it before draining the coolant and removing the block heater.
 
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Old Dec 25, 2014 | 10:55 AM
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Something is causing the gfci to trip, gotta be a short to ground. Bad juju to have AC rippling anywhere with all the fancy 'puter boxes sprinkled around in there, too.
 
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Old Dec 25, 2014 | 01:13 PM
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x3 on checking the block heater cord. The cord tends to fail often. Usually the wires break just behind the plug as that gets the most wear and tear plugging it in all the time and there isn't any real strain relief.
But the cord could be shorting out anywhere along its length. Follow it from the plug all the way back to the block heater itself which should be behind the starter in the middle of the passenger side of the block.

Replacement cords are available, or you can splice in a new piece of cord if have the skill and materials.
 
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