Well, its 9F this AM and the temp is just a tad higher than the overnight lows. Last night it was 11F, I came home around 9PM and plugged her in so I wouldn't have to do a low temp cold start. I went out and without unplugging the block heater I cycled the key and to my surprise the manifold heaters lit up. Something's not right with this picture Anyway, I cycled the key again and the heaters lit off a second time, the engine turns over and lights right off. Now I'm really confused, the manifold heaters don't usually come on when the block heater has been in all night. Well, I go to unplug the cord and then I see that the 3 prong plug is only inserted in one slot. So as I write my tale of stupidity, "Binford" is sitting in the driveway, correctly plugged in and idling at 1000RPM

The moral of the story, at least for me, is to feel the connection at night and make doubly sure it is really in

 

It happens, dude!

 

It's decides to come on based on air temp. And the block heater will warm the engine, not heat it to driving temps. If this shocks you, just wait till you get chased out the driveway by an orange snake.

 

Hasn't happend to me YET but I always think about it!!

 

On my bike ride to work (I ride my bicycle to work year round, -40 to +100) I usually find 1 to 2 "orange snakes" on the road every year. I have quite to extension cord collection!!!!

 

My block heater tail is wire tied to the brush guard and the feed is secured to "Rube Goldberg" fitting in the garage. IF I forget and just back out, the cords will self-disconnect.................without ripping out the garage door or the heater cord. When the block heater is plugged in overnight I will get codes for Bat Temp Sensor and Ambient Air Temp. No block heater=no codes

 

Put it in the wrong hole and that'll happen , lol, anywho...i use a lighted ext cord, the with the lil orange led light in it, helps me find the hole....but only in that situation. oh yeah, and i always park so i have to walk past the cord to get to the drivers door.

 

Could have been worse, it did start.

 

5er,

If you go to the dealer there is a soft recall I believe on the temp sensor. I had mine flashed due to this and the light has never come on again.

As to driving with the "orange snake" I did it once. Now I have a bright orange card I laminated that I hang on the door handle when I plug in.

 

I never have driven with the Orange snake..... but I have returned to the house a few times and found it stretched down the driveway.... Why would somebody sneak up on my place just to stretch my cord down the driveway?

 

I've never drug my cord, but have seen a few and have even stopped a couple cars that were still dragging theirs...We don't have many green or yellow ours are blue (not from the cold) arctic cords that stay flexible in the cold....I saw your timer Larry, bet that yellow cord gets pretty stiff, they break here....The led power cords are nice you can tell from inside if its still plugged in.....
Side note...always make sure your cord is grounded good....And make sure all cords are protected from wear, a few vehicles burn up every winter because of shorted cords.

 

This is why I always use the 100 foot cord never the 50 footer, cant see the 50 in the rear view going down the hiway.

 

Spoken like a man with lots of experience.

 

i always thought you could damage the block heater by leavin it plugged in and starting it up due to coolant flow from the water pump.. ??? am i wrong?

 

If you're a dope then I'm a certified stumplickin booger rollin paint eating moron, cause my first old boat I had I drug down the road with one of the plug in battery chargers still attached and that box bouncin around behind the trailer