Thanks all.
7.3 Engine Block Heater
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Tri-Cities Washington
Two by Ford,
My heater also quit working and I found that it was open in the male plug. I cut off the cord and installed a new plug...works as good as new. I tested it with an ohm-meter and it tested open, so I used a pin to poke thru the insulation about 6" back from the plug and tested each conductor. ! showed the short like it should and the other tested open, so I tested it again about 1" from the plug and go the same results. Then with pins in both conductors I "looked" at the heater and got about 14 ohms which let me know it was good to the heater. I cut off the plug about 1" behind the plug and installed the new male plug. The old plug was bad inside the plug itself. Hope this helps.
Ray
My heater also quit working and I found that it was open in the male plug. I cut off the cord and installed a new plug...works as good as new. I tested it with an ohm-meter and it tested open, so I used a pin to poke thru the insulation about 6" back from the plug and tested each conductor. ! showed the short like it should and the other tested open, so I tested it again about 1" from the plug and go the same results. Then with pins in both conductors I "looked" at the heater and got about 14 ohms which let me know it was good to the heater. I cut off the plug about 1" behind the plug and installed the new male plug. The old plug was bad inside the plug itself. Hope this helps.
Ray
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
Today I went to a marine supply store and bought a plug holder that I installed in the lower front plastic fairing on the right side of truck, so instead of laying on the ground and searching for the block heater plug, its right in front of me. It has a snap on cover to protect from debris. Lou
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Tri-Cities Washington
Today I went to a marine supply store and bought a plug holder that I installed in the lower front plastic fairing on the right side of truck, so instead of laying on the ground and searching for the block heater plug, its right in front of me. It has a snap on cover to protect from debris. Lou
New User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
To find break in cord..
To find a break in the cord for your engine block heater the easiest way is to use a non-contact voltage detector available from most hardware stores for $10-$20. You just plug in the cord like you would and the follow the cord back with the voltage detector until it stops going off. This is nice because you don't have to cut the cord or guess, you know where it's broken. If it doesn't find a break and you are sure it has one try switching polarity so that the neutral and hot side are reversed. With no electronics in the circuit it doesn't matter with AC. The detectors are nice to have for around the house projects too but the will only work with AC voltage over 50V so it doesn't work with the 12V DC in vehicles.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,153
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
To find a break in the cord for your engine block heater the easiest way is to use a non-contact voltage detector available from most hardware stores for $10-$20. You just plug in the cord like you would and the follow the cord back with the voltage detector until it stops going off. This is nice because you don't have to cut the cord or guess, you know where it's broken. If it doesn't find a break and you are sure it has one try switching polarity so that the neutral and hot side are reversed. With no electronics in the circuit it doesn't matter with AC. The detectors are nice to have for around the house projects too but the will only work with AC voltage over 50V so it doesn't work with the 12V DC in vehicles.
OR JUST LOOK FOR SPARKS LIKE MINE HAD!
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,549
Likes: 14
From: Payson, AZ
Easy way, yes. After it has been plugged in for several minutes you should be able to hear the coolant gurgling if the heater element is gettng hot. I can hear it with my ear to the driver side wheel well.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,153
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
Awesome, now this is when it is cold, or at any temp? (being able to hear it)
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,153
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
Definitely working, thanks!
