I Just Had The Block Heater Replaced, I Plug It In 2 Days Later And It's Working Fine. I Have It Set On A Timer To Come On 4 Hours Before I Get In The Truck. The Coolant Temp When I Go To Start The Truck Is Just Over 160 Deg. The Wait To Start Light Just Barely Come On And The Truck Starts Great. On The 4th Day The Block Heater Is Dead, Took The Truck Back In Today And The Tech At The Chevy Dealer Said It Was Fine, And This Is What He Wrote:

Check Temp Of Sensor, 110 Degrees, Plugged In Sensor And Rechecked Temp Ten Minutes Later Was At 135 Degrees. Heater Is Operating Normally, Note There Is Approx. Six Gallons Of Coolant In Vehicle, Heater Element Does Not Have The Ability To Warm Up Cold Engine, It Is Designed To Keep Warm Engine Coolant From Becoming Very Cold To Improve Starting In Cold Ambient Temperatures.

If This Is The Case, Why Before Could I Increase My Coolant Temp By Over 100 Deg In 4 Hours. And Why Is Every Body Using Timers. According To What He Wrote, As Soon As You Park The Truck, Plug It In Until The Next Time I Drive It.

i don't think plugging in and measuring temp is right way to check operation, use VOM(volt,ohm, meter) and check for continuity don't know what value is but you can check other trucks or can also check current draw need special meter solar power users have a unit thats about $20-30 cant remember name. i have 2 units to install a 1500watt ohms out to 100 ohms and a 600watt with 240 ohms. i leave mine plugged in all the time use to it from service.
keith

When I get home I plug in the block heater and usually within a few seconds after I can hear it turn on. It makes a swooshing sound. I took it into the Chevy dealer and he said it was normal. The other night I got home late and went to plug in the block heater and nothing. so I looked at the cord end which was in great shape. I checked the breaker going to the socket in the garage and the electrical cord it was plugged into both were fine. I guess I will have to use an ohm meter to check the block heater element. How difficult is this ? Should I take it to the dealer ? I am sure that if it needs replaced I will have to drain all the coolant. Any help appreciated.
Mark

My plug was not allowing continuity thru the cord from one prong to the other.......on a Digital Multimeter it shows a dead short.

I asked my dealer to verify and replace cord and or heater........dealer changes cord and tells me to try it........as I pick up the truck I open the hood and ohm the cord again..........mind you it has an orange end now and is brand new.........so I know it got changed.......

I tell the SVC manager that it is still not repaired.......he says just try it......so I plug it in for 8 hours at 25 degrees with a lighted cord so I know it has juice going to it........

I use the predator to check ECT-------Engine Coolant Temp.......still matches air temp..........so it ain't working..........:mad: Censored :mad: Censored :mad:

It is going back in next Tuesday..........if I have time I am going to check it myself..........make sure they are not overlooking something........I am going to ohm the heater where the cord plugs into the actual block heater and see if I have continuity and a resistance change on the meter.

I will post any results I find.

T:cool: NY

Check Temp Of Sensor, 110 Degrees, Plugged In Sensor And Rechecked Temp Ten Minutes Later Was At 135 Degrees. Heater Is Operating Normally, Note There Is Approx. Six Gallons Of Coolant In Vehicle, Heater Element Does Not Have The Ability To Warm Up Cold Engine, It Is Designed To Keep Warm Engine Coolant From Becoming Very Cold To Improve Starting In Cold Ambient Temperatures.
dealers full of it. the heater is a 900 or 1Kw heater. it WILL heat up a cold engine. GM says overnight if really cold (I don't recall, but like -20F) 4 hrs if 0 or above. If near freezing, mine will be warm enough to not turn on the glow plug light in 2 hrs and almost instant heat.