Mystery Wire

[BernieB]

Just find a circuit that's hot only with the key on, like to the fuel pump relay. The draw is so low on those heaters it shouldn't cause any problems, but if you want to be extra careful you could use a relay and have it toggle power from the battery. If you use a relay, have the switch control power to the relay coil. That way, the relay only gets energized when the key is on and the the switch is also on. No chance of a dead battery that way, and the relay only comes on when you're using the heaters.

[bubbatrucklover]

Originally Posted by BernieB

Well, I'm glad I said what I said above, because that's exactly what it is. First time I've ever seen a block heater mounted with the plug on the driver's side. Usually they're on the passenger side, so they're next to the curb when you park. And I find it really hard to believe that anyone thought a truck in Florida was going to need one!

I crawled underneath a little while ago, in between the series of rain showers we're getting, and sure enough, there's a block heater towards the rear of the block on the driver's side. Now all I need to do is replace the plug on it and see if it works. Could come in handy next time I visit the family out in Idaho.

I will THANK YOU to know it DOES get below 50 deg here!

Seriously though we get frost/freeze warnings at times. LESS than you and more then West Palm/Lauderdale.

I like a different style of heater but yours came with the truck so.....

[BernieB]

Originally Posted by bubbatrucklover

I will THANK YOU to know it DOES get below 50 deg here!

Seriously though we get frost/freeze warnings at times. LESS than you and more then West Palm/Lauderdale.

I like a different style of heater but yours came with the truck so.....

Yeah, I know it can get a little chilly down there at times. Why, I think it might even get down to the high twenties for a few minutes every other century. But a block heater? Sheeesh!

It's a diesel for pity's sake... I'd worry more about the fuel gelling before I worried about the coolant freezing. What's a 50/50 mix good for? -35 or so? If it ever gets down to negative numbers like that in West Palm Beach I think there will be more important things to worry about than, "Is the truck gonna start?" Like, "What the heck are we gonna do with all these Cubans who just ice skated here from downtown Havana?"

[bubbatrucklover]

Ice skating cubans! Haitians too! Don't know if too many cubans live in cuba anymore. They're all in Miami!

So is your blockheater the one that takes the place of a freeze plug?

[BernieB]

Yup, it's a standard factory block heater.