Greetings,

I have a 2006 quad cab CTD that did not come with the heater cord. I purchased it from Cummins and installed last evening. It went fairly easily, although it was difficult to get to . It is behind the oil filter, and I screwed off the plastic cap that was on it and pushed in the cord and hand tightened the nut. I then ran the cable to the front of the truck along the frame. My question: How does one know its working correctly? I plugged it in this morning for about 30 minutes (it was 30 degrees outside) and I did not notice any difference. Does it need more plug in time? Is there a way to test it to see if its working correctly? Thanks for any/all comments.

 

It takes a lot longer than 30 mins to warm up that block of cast iron. I think if the has been plugged in over night the top radiator hose will be warm.
But it takes a while to heat up.

 

Not sure on the newer models but when you plug it in you will be able to hear it working, should be the same as any other.

 

It sounds like a coffee pot perculating. Remember those from grandma's house?

 

I didn't hear any sound, but I will listen again this evening when I get home. I know something is working, because when its plugged in, and I remove the plug from the electrical source, I get a little arc as if I am breaking the circuit. I handtightened the nut when installing the cord. I feel like it is pretty tight. Does anyone think I should use a wrench as well?

 

The sound will be more noticable as soon as you plug it in after a second or two its alittle harder to hear.

 

Some heaters will be louder than others. the sound should be a soft hiss. Kind of a shhhhhh sound. After it has been plugged in for half an hour or so, unplug it and carefully (cause it shoud be hot) touch the metal of the engine heater. It is the same thing as the element in an electric hot water tank, and the sound will be quite similar. One hour is pretty short for this much iron and coolant. But 2 hours is sufficient in cold temps to get your fire lit.

Also, it seems odd that there was no cord. Bet the dealer is making good money an the cords he sells.

 

Starting in (I believe 2004) the element part of the heater was installed from Cummins but the Optional cord was ~$25 if installed when new, and ~$40 if purchased from the parts department.

 

Measure the resistance between the the two flat blades on the plug with and ohm meter you should get around 20 ohms. Also/or plug it in for five minutes or so and reach up in behind the oil filter and grab the knurled nut it will be warm especially if its not to cold outside.

 

It's crazy - if the cord is ordered with the truck, its on 10.00. If it's ordered afterward, well you get the picture. Thanks for the suggestions. I will try it tomorrow, including the meter check.

 

I remember postings on this 2 years ago when I bought mine. Guys were getting the cords at Cummins dealers for much cheaper--around $10 if memory serves. I ran mine to the front and zip-tied it in two places to the plastic shroud on the left side of the radiator (drilled a pair of small holes for each tie). Keeps it up where it doesn't get torn off in the brush.

 

I had the dealer install my cord while they were changing the oil. My oil changes are free. They changed the oil and put the cord on and they charged me $158. I threw a fit and they said well in the southern part of the US, DC doesn't deem them necessary. I said well that is the owners opinion about whether to plug the trucks in or not. This was the first diesel I had ever bought without a cord on the truck. I was so ******!!

 

I had the dealer install my cord while they were changing the oil. My oil changes are free. They changed the oil and put the cord on and they charged me $158. I threw a fit and they said well in the southern part of the US, DC doesn't deem them necessary. I said well that is the owners opinion about whether to plug the trucks in or not. This was the first diesel I had ever bought without a cord on the truck. They said if I would've said something then they could've thrown it in as part of the deal and I said well if I would've known they werent on the truck then I would've let you throw it in.

 

Are you saying your oil changes are free, so therefore THEY CHARGED YOU $158 for a heater cord and plug it in???

How can they sleep at night!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I re-routed my heater cord. It makes it so much easier to just plug the cord in instead of having the end of the cord flopping around. Pics are in my gallery.