To those who use the block heater....

kissfan79 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2012 1:11 pm

Just a quick question for those who use the bock heater...when it is warm and you are not plugging it in (or when you unplug it and are done with it until the next time)....how do you store the cord so it is not in the way of anything? Do you just rubber band it up and let it sit there? It doesn't get truly cold here in NC but I may end up using it once or twice. My CRD has just over 100,000 miles on it and the block heater has never been used.

Jim

Radman · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2012 1:15 pm

I ran mine down towards the lower grill opening and tie wrapped it there. Easy access for plugging and tucks away in the bumper nicely.

kissfan79 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2012 1:22 pm

Nice....any pitfalls to be aware of in terms of where not to let the cord touch on the engine?

Jim

papaindigo · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2012 1:26 pm

I used nylon wire ties (the black UV stable ones) to secure it to the oil dip stick housing, where is was secured as a bundle from the factory, then up the wiring harness past the battery to in front of the Power Distribution Center where I have a bit of velcro looped thru the upper radiator support to secure the plug end when not in use. When I need it I open the hood, undo the velcro, hook up power, lower hood. Works for me as I have to walk in front of the vehicle to get to the driver's door so I cannot forget to unplug otherwise I'd probably put some sort of reminder thing on top of the hood in front of the drivers seat or on the drivers seat.

jws84_02 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2012 2:47 pm

I have mine coming through the grill. I just tied a knot in it around one of the plastic grill pieces. When summer comes around I will un-tie it and zip tie it up back into the engine bay

naturist · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2012 3:37 pm

I have mine fed through the grill near the headlight and zip-tied in place. All the really hot pieces are on the other side of the block, so it is not difficult to route it so that it stays safe.

irollgen4s · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2012 4:15 pm

hanging loose in the area between the grill and relay/fuse box on the right side of the engine bay, when look at the front of the jeep. Haven't had any issues.

jeepdan · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2012 4:30 pm

Check the insulation on the heater cord if it has been left folded up as it came from the factory and never used. The insulation was cracked badly exposing the wiring on CRD #2.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2012 5:41 pm

jeepdan is correct up to a point. The heater cord is a 3 wire cord with insulation on all 3 cords and then those cords are surrounded by a rubbery black outside coating much like the external sheath on an electric drill cord. I've seen the external sheath cracked as jeepdan notes but not the internal wire insulation (e.g. the wire is not exposed). That said you do need to inspect for the external cracking and I'd lean toward replacing (we did so on stoutdog' 2006). As I recall the cord is like $25 at the dealer and is not all that hard to replace but it is handy to have 2 people. One under the vehicle to detach/attach the cord on the bottom driver's side of the block and the other to jiggle the cord so it can be found and then to feed the new cord in. Also as I recall there is something like a ground cable in the way that needs to be removed and reattached in the process.

jeepdan · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2012 5:47 pm

Actually mine was bad enough that copper was exposed :!:

at each fold as it did not have that extra outer sheath. It is a flat looking three wire cord. The replacement I bought from jeep was made the same way, no extra outer sheath.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2012 6:05 pm

Now that's interesting. I've had my hands on 5 (1 with cracking which exposed the 3 different colors of the internal wire insulation) and seen a picture of 1. All of them had the black rubber exterior including the 1 OEM replacement.

You are quite correct if copper is exposed replace soonish as that cord is not usable although until hooked to power it's not terrible dangerous.

jeepdan · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2012 6:10 pm

I wish mine was made that way, I would feel safer. I always get a uneasy feeling anyhow, standing in wet snow while plugging it in.

mikey1273 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2012 7:56 pm

Mine was routed to exit in the area in the lower part of the bumper. in the summer and when not used it tucks out of the way easy. Previous owner must have done it.

Boss · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2012 8:10 pm

I love this forum, so much information. I'm using the block heater every morning even though it hasn't been terribly cold here in northern NM ~28° It really works well. I too am leery of standing in the deep snow messing with a stiff from the cold extension cord and plugging in the heater, oh well, being careful and aware is a price we pay for a easy starting diesel engine

Brian

bbo · **Joined:** Fri Sep 30, 2005 5:17 pm **Posts:** 382

you could always plug in the extension to the heater cord, then plug the extension into the outlet.

outside or garage should be gfci anyway, right?

Boss · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2012 9:00 pm

Quote:

outside or garage should be gfci anyway, right?

good point

mikey1273 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2012 11:36 pm

bbo wrote:

you could always plug in the extension to the heater cord, then plug the extension into the outlet.

outside or garage should be gfci anyway, right?

no not always !!! newer electric code required GFCI if the building is older the outside and garage outlets may be normal outlets with those spring loaded covers to keep water out. my house is that way but then it is about 100 years old.

METCRD · **Posted:** Wed Jan 04, 2012 12:13 am

I fed my plug up to the front and sneaked the plug out next to the head light, no tie down for me. Before this I gently closed it between the hood and fender allowing it to then protrude out into the air....makes the plug quite apparent.

On the issue of remembering to unplug it before you leave.....growing up I drove my parents 85 chevy suburban and it was diesel so I was taught to plug it in when the whether gets cold (my dad is a truck driver so this was ingrained in his head, thus ingrained in mine), however I was never taught any tricks to remembering to unplug it. I did come up with my own trick and that is, after plugging in the extension cord take the cord and put a wrap up over the drivers side view mirror. I came up with this trick after I pulled out of the driveway and was checking my review mirror and noticed the 50' orange cord following me down the street.

DocB · **Posted:** Thu Jan 05, 2012 1:10 am

Marinco Mod. Makes plugging in super easy and no more darn wire to worry about.

bbo · **Joined:** Fri Sep 30, 2005 5:17 pm **Posts:** 382

DocB wrote:

Marinco Mod. Makes plugging in super easy and no more darn wire to worry about.

after googling, I like that idea.

I don't use the block heater much ( parked in garage), but it would be nice to keep the cord out of the grill.

To those who use the block heater....

Who is online