block heater
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 394
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From: memphis
tersejr, I guess it's catching. Ol' Gray wouldn't start and I suspect the glow plug relay. I'm due for the o ring change on the injectors, so I might as well put new glow plugs in too. I've had the truck since 96'and had gone through several relays. Pretty good chunck of change but it's worth it. Good luck finding the timer.
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 32
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From: Ormond Beach, FL.
I ended up with the same problem that scott had with the wire snapping, sounds like that's what you did. Seems to be a common problem around 90-100,000 miles. By the way, ford is the only place that may have a plug that the cover goes on. otherwise, i found that the little gray three pronged adapters work well as a cover for the other replacement plugs. It was definitely needed with the cold from last winter in Connecticut.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
Rewiring the plug
Hi guys,
Nice discussion on the block heater.
Scott_Fisher, I like your idea of rewiring the plug towards the rear. I too back my truck in next to our garage and would love to rewire mine like yours. I am in no way an electrician, is the job accomplished by simply splicing together the same kind of wire to the desired length? Would simple black electrical tape due, or wire nuts or both?
I have actually never plugged mine in, but our winters seem to be getting a little colder lately. Also, my truck has turned into more of a dayoff vehicle, since I have acquired a work take-home vehicle. I may use the block heater this winter.
Any little tips would be greatly appreciated.
Happy Holidays to All!
Mike
Nice discussion on the block heater.
Scott_Fisher, I like your idea of rewiring the plug towards the rear. I too back my truck in next to our garage and would love to rewire mine like yours. I am in no way an electrician, is the job accomplished by simply splicing together the same kind of wire to the desired length? Would simple black electrical tape due, or wire nuts or both?
I have actually never plugged mine in, but our winters seem to be getting a little colder lately. Also, my truck has turned into more of a dayoff vehicle, since I have acquired a work take-home vehicle. I may use the block heater this winter.
Any little tips would be greatly appreciated.
Happy Holidays to All!
Mike
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
Re: Rewiring the plug
Originally posted by FirstPickup
Hi guys,
Nice discussion on the block heater.
Scott_Fisher, I like your idea of rewiring the plug towards the rear. I too back my truck in next to our garage and would love to rewire mine like yours. I am in no way an electrician, is the job accomplished by simply splicing together the same kind of wire to the desired length? Would simple black electrical tape due, or wire nuts or both?
I have actually never plugged mine in, but our winters seem to be getting a little colder lately. Also, my truck has turned into more of a dayoff vehicle, since I have acquired a work take-home vehicle. I may use the block heater this winter.
Any little tips would be greatly appreciated.
Happy Holidays to All!
Mike
Hi guys,
Nice discussion on the block heater.
Scott_Fisher, I like your idea of rewiring the plug towards the rear. I too back my truck in next to our garage and would love to rewire mine like yours. I am in no way an electrician, is the job accomplished by simply splicing together the same kind of wire to the desired length? Would simple black electrical tape due, or wire nuts or both?
I have actually never plugged mine in, but our winters seem to be getting a little colder lately. Also, my truck has turned into more of a dayoff vehicle, since I have acquired a work take-home vehicle. I may use the block heater this winter.
Any little tips would be greatly appreciated.
Happy Holidays to All!
Mike
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: MA
You can do it any way you desire. That may be as simple as getting an extension cord the length of the truck, plugging it in the front & running it to the desired location in the rear of the truck. That may not be the best way, but it may be better than cutting cords & using wire nuts. If you decide to sell or trade, you can unplug the extension cord & the truck is back to being intact & original. Any wires run underneath the truck should be zip tied very securely. The dirt/mud/ice that gets on the wires is very heavy & will cause them to sag. A heavy gauge cord is always better than a lighter gauge cord (but not always necessary).
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
From: memphis
Firstpickup, You can pick up the length of cord from a Home Depot, Lowes, etc. Then get two female plugs that will connect your hot, ground and earth ground wires. Just to keep the stuff out, silicone any seams around the plug. Screw holes etc. Zip tie it out of the way, especially things that move.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
Thanks underp2 and horsecop.
It does make more sense to simply run the cord underneath with some type of reminder to UNPLUG! I like the note idea and wrapping it over the mirror that some other people had. First off, I guess I will make sure the thing works before plugging it in, since I have never used it before. But as I stated in an earlier post, my truck has never sat this much before either, since getting a work car to take home. horsecop, sounds like we do the same job, minus the horse.
Thanks again guys,
Mike
It does make more sense to simply run the cord underneath with some type of reminder to UNPLUG! I like the note idea and wrapping it over the mirror that some other people had. First off, I guess I will make sure the thing works before plugging it in, since I have never used it before. But as I stated in an earlier post, my truck has never sat this much before either, since getting a work car to take home. horsecop, sounds like we do the same job, minus the horse.
Thanks again guys,
Mike
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 394
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From: memphis
FirstPickup, I know a female horsecop up in Baltimore. Nice gal. I mentioned earlier two female ends. I ment one of each. I like things a little neat I guess but an extention cord would do the trick. I had to send my truck to the shop today because I couldn't get a 10mm bolt out, but I had to have some other stuff done that I wouldn't touch. Stay warm up there.
Last edited by horsecop; Dec 2, 2003 at 12:54 AM.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 359
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From: Maryland
horsecop, I know what you mean about having the dealer do certain jobs on our trucks. I would rather pay a little more and have it done right the first time! Yeah, the mercury is falling up here now, be safe!
Mike
Mike
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 435
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From: NW
Concerning timers for my block heater, I just went down and bought a heavy duty from my local hardware stor that has 3 prong outlet, and capable of 1850 watts, for around 11 bucks. So far so good, except that I have it set to turn on at 4:30 and go off at 6:30 AM, right before I leave for work. I think maybe 2 hours isn't enough though. I may push it up to 3 hours and see how that works. I do agree with others though that all night every night may prematurely wear it out and cause it to burn out. Plus the electric bill will skyrocket.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,011
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From: South Dakota
I was lucky once with heaters. Lived in an apartment that had an outlet that was tied to a switch inside. I would get up in the morning, turn on the switch to heat up the coolant and off before I left for work. Nice and warmed up vehicle.
Tuned
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 303
Likes: 2
From: Kentucky
What does plugin in the truck really do. I would think it would be for the oil. Warmer oil is good for the cold engine. Does it really make the heater warmer in the morning? I have never plugged mine in yet. It's only gettin to about 28 in the mornings.