I think my block heater died, It was -5 this morning. My truck was parked in an unheated garage, and this morningit cranked realy slowly. I checked the batterys and there ok, I even took the started off and checked it(out of the truck with jumper cables to the battery it spins fine). So I am guessing the block heater died. Has any one ever changed one, if so how bad is it?

 

Check your heater wire for problems first. I found one wire broken just behind the plug on mine. Attached new plug from hardware store and was good to go.

 

I have power to the plug, but I checked the block heater itself for resistance with a dmm and I dont have any risistance. This leads me to beleve the elemnt is bad. I just wanted to know if any one has changed one, and if there are any tricks to it. It seems like it is in a bad,had to reach, spot

 

It SHOULD read no resistance. Zero Ohms as it is a direct short....or real close to zero ohms. As previous poster said, check the wires at the plug....make sure one of the two (black or white) isn't 'open'.

 

Hope your starter is still out best time to check this whole thing out. The electric cord is the weakest link usually that crap plug. If that element is bad well it can be a little wet to change. Drain the radiator and pull the bottom radiator hose off one end or both your choice. Give it every avenue to drain now here is where you can go 2 routes. On my plow truck I used an inline on the bottom hose works nice no issues comes as a whole unit. I am not sure now where I bought it maybe Advance Auto or Carquest. The only thing to be mindful about is if your in the salt the original block heater might start to be compromised. I had one go bad on a 6.9L and I was lucky it popped right at the shop door wow does it empty your cooling system quick! If you go original watch how the old one comes out I believe it faces forward inside the block (the element). The pain is the butterfly catch that pulls the element and gasket tight to the block everything needs to be "just right". Be careful and make sure the element does not rest against anything inside as it will collect debris or create a hot spot on the element and burn that thing out a lot quicker.

 

Not sure how much resistance you should have, but you should have some. I am guessing between 8 and 15 ohms. Make sure your meter can read ohms that low.

 

winger235 thanks for the info
gumboluvr, my meeter goes that low but shows nothing

I just picked one up at the parts storeand pluger it into the old cord and it did work, So I guess I will install it. Can it be done with the starter in? or dose it apsoltly have to come out?

 

The starter should come out makes it wide open to the block heater.

 

Hey farmall05, take an ohm reading of the new one. I am curious to see what it is.

 

1500 watts = 9.6 ohms
1000 watts = 14.4 ohms
500 watts = 28.8 ohms

Those are the most common block heater sizes I have seen.

 

I got a 1000 watt it is right around where dave said at 14.2 ohms, thanks guys