I plugged my truck in last night. I have never plugged it in before. It always sits in a garage. I had to leave it outside last night. My question is..... Should the truck start blowing heat right away? It acted like it didnt work at all. The motor seemed really cold. And I did make sure the cord had power. I was plugged in all night.

 

When I plug mine in all night my commander reads around 110 degrees and my heater warms up quicker than if it wasnt plugged in at all but not immediatly. Next time you plug it in pop the hood in the morning and just feel the block you will be able to tell if its working.

 

thanks. I will give it a try. If it isnt working, are they hard to replace?

 

No they just screw into the block just behind the oil filter.

 

thanks for the info.

 

Most times block heater problems are just a broken wire on the cord right at the AC plug.
Just cut off a couple inches of cord and replace the plug but first take an ohm meter to the two plug prongs, you should get about 10 ohms.

 

Mines like that too. The heat starts pumping out by the end of the street about 1/2 mile, just mildly warm. If I'm not plugged in I don't get heat till I've gone about 5 miles!

Kurt

 

If your "Wait to Start" comes on, your block heater is not working or has not be on long enough. I think you need three hours to warm one with the heater.

 

My light comes on everytime I turn my truck on unless its at opperating temp and I turn it off and back on real quick.

 

The wait to start light is the best indication for me. I had mine plugged in one night and went to start her up and the wait to start light stayed on forever, around 25 degrees. I thought, what the hay?? Found plug in shop in socket, but kinda pulled out and not working. If the light comes on and then is gone in a matter of seconds, 5 maybe, it's working.

I left mine plugged in for a couple days and decided to check the coolant level, well, don't do that if it's been plugged up for awhile. Turned the rad cap and it started to spit coolant all over. Did'nt burn, but it was under pressure for sure.

Mines usually warm enough I can flick on the defrost and within a couple minutes of idling in the drive it will be clearing the windows. Frosty mornings, all other cars in my drive have frost on windows, not the truck.

Hope my mindless rambling helps out

 

I have such a good habit of plugging in and a bad habit of not even looking at the wait to start light since it never comes on
that I've been known to smoke out a parking lot after the truck sits long enough and I crank up a cold engine.