Questions about engine heater and mystery toggle
10-30-2006, 02:35 PM
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Questions about engine heater and mystery toggle
Ingorance on display. . . 
My 97 4wd manual has a 3 prong plug (and cap) sticking out the front right corner. I figgered this was something to keep the fuel from gelling in cold weather. Opened the hood and saw a light bulb on the left side of the hood, so then I thought that was what the plug was for, and the light bulb would generate enough heat to do the job, - Didn't cross my mind why a small bulb would take a 3 prong plug
- but when I plugged it in, the light still didn't come on. So then I looked closer and determined the attachment was loose. After I reconnected it, the light came on, but went off when I closed the hood. So I unplugged the plug - and the light still came on when I opened the hood. So now I know that the light bulb is just a hood light.
Back to the plug - when I plug it in a hear a faint noise, sort of a whirring. Not knowing what this was, I unplugged it again until I learn more. Can anyone explain?
While I'm at it, there are two switches in the center of the dash, above the radio. One is for the fog lights, which looks like a factory install. Just to the left of that there is another toggle switch, which looks like an aftermarket, because it has no markings and doesn't feel very durable. Any guesses what that might be?
My 97 4wd manual has a 3 prong plug (and cap) sticking out the front right corner. I figgered this was something to keep the fuel from gelling in cold weather. Opened the hood and saw a light bulb on the left side of the hood, so then I thought that was what the plug was for, and the light bulb would generate enough heat to do the job, - Didn't cross my mind why a small bulb would take a 3 prong plug
- but when I plugged it in, the light still didn't come on. So then I looked closer and determined the attachment was loose. After I reconnected it, the light came on, but went off when I closed the hood. So I unplugged the plug - and the light still came on when I opened the hood. So now I know that the light bulb is just a hood light. Back to the plug - when I plug it in a hear a faint noise, sort of a whirring. Not knowing what this was, I unplugged it again until I learn more. Can anyone explain?
While I'm at it, there are two switches in the center of the dash, above the radio. One is for the fog lights, which looks like a factory install. Just to the left of that there is another toggle switch, which looks like an aftermarket, because it has no markings and doesn't feel very durable. Any guesses what that might be?
10-30-2006, 02:56 PM
#2
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Don't know about your dash switches. The 3-prong plug, if it's a standard 120 volt style, is your engine heater. Plug it in to an outlet overnight in the winter to keep your engine warm. It pulls 750 watts so use a pretty heavy extension cord. Mine makes a little noise too when plugged in.
10-30-2006, 04:09 PM
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thats sounds just like an aux coolant heater. not the block heater, but an external device. it can be a number of shapes and be in a couple locations. but they work great. theres a small pump and a heating element in the unit. it circulates warmed coolant. if you have the heater core open it'll flow warmed coolant through it.
if you leave your vents directed to winsheild on a cool night when you plug that in, it should keep the frost off the glass. at least it did in all my old '73-'87 chevys. so nice haveing clear glass right away on a winter day.
if you leave your vents directed to winsheild on a cool night when you plug that in, it should keep the frost off the glass. at least it did in all my old '73-'87 chevys. so nice haveing clear glass right away on a winter day.
10-30-2006, 08:55 PM
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The bulb your talking about isn't a regular light bulb, right? It's the little under hood light?
The cord should go to a block heater. When plugged in, it should faintly sound like an old fashioned perculator. It won't have a pump to circulate anything. It's just a heating element like what you get to drop in your coffee cup for your office. It won't make your truck instantly warm on startup in 0 degree weather, but it will make it start and come up to temp better and faster. It won't do anything for the fuel, as it is a block only heater, no fuel system. I beleive 40 degrees or lower is the temp for when you start using it.
The cord should go to a block heater. When plugged in, it should faintly sound like an old fashioned perculator. It won't have a pump to circulate anything. It's just a heating element like what you get to drop in your coffee cup for your office. It won't make your truck instantly warm on startup in 0 degree weather, but it will make it start and come up to temp better and faster. It won't do anything for the fuel, as it is a block only heater, no fuel system. I beleive 40 degrees or lower is the temp for when you start using it.
10-30-2006, 11:25 PM
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My first guess for the toggle would be that there were at some point some aftermarket lights installed. The space would be used for the OD lockout on an auto truck, and is frequently used for aux switches/lights.
10-30-2006, 11:57 PM
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The bulb your talking about isn't a regular light bulb, right? It's the little under hood light?
The cord should go to a block heater. When plugged in, it should faintly sound like an old fashioned perculator. It won't have a pump to circulate anything. It's just a heating element like what you get to drop in your coffee cup for your office. It won't make your truck instantly warm on startup in 0 degree weather, but it will make it start and come up to temp better and faster. It won't do anything for the fuel, as it is a block only heater, no fuel system. I beleive 40 degrees or lower is the temp for when you start using it.
The cord should go to a block heater. When plugged in, it should faintly sound like an old fashioned perculator. It won't have a pump to circulate anything. It's just a heating element like what you get to drop in your coffee cup for your office. It won't make your truck instantly warm on startup in 0 degree weather, but it will make it start and come up to temp better and faster. It won't do anything for the fuel, as it is a block only heater, no fuel system. I beleive 40 degrees or lower is the temp for when you start using it.
ah I see. i always thought the whiring was an actual small pump in one of these
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