has anyone installed a permanent extension cord? i just fished out my block heater cord today and didn't take out the fender well. i know there is a way to back pull some more out of the harness if you take the fender well out but i HATE taking out fender wells. it is 25 bolts of nonsense and half of the screw things come out and dont go back in or strip so you have to break em. anyway, i have the cord routed beside the battery and sits right around the top of the air box. if i open the hood i can fish a flat cable above the headlight and probably be able to close the hood, or i can fish through the grill but that might become a task day after day. eventually i would like to not have to open the hood to plug in the heater but i practically refuse to take out the fender well unless something else requires it.

my idea is to get a 1-2ft extension cord, fish it past the radiator and leave the extension cord within reach through the grill. it would come out in the summer since there would be no need for it. thoughts or opinions greatly appreciated.

something like this would probably do the trick. http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat_id=914&sku=29929

Funny you should post this today, I just fished mine out yesterday and was thinking a similar thing. Can it really take that much longer for the assembly line to run the cord.

I ran mine straight forward beside the battery, under the air intake and beside the radiator. It comes out enough that I put a zip tie around the loop for the plug cover and one of the bars in the grill to keep it within easy reach. Another inch or two would be nice, but it is long enough to plug in without opening the hood.

I think the whole process took about 10 minutes. I didn't have to unbolt or move anything. Just a little bit of a squeeze getting my hands in place.

I routed my heater cord out through the rubberized slot on the passenger side where the hood hinges up. It allows me to zip tie the plug to the antenna and when it's plugged in I can drape the extension cord over the passenger side mirror. This way it sticks out very little, it's secure and not swinging around and it helps me see if it is still plugged in in the morning. Plus its easy to disconnect and store the cord away for the summer.

That's how we roll around here. Got 2 plugs year round through my grill. One for the interior warmer and one for the block heater. I never open the hood looking for cords.

I just bought a 25' 12 gauge extension cord from Home Depot. I pop the hood when I plan on using it. I just keep it tucked besides the battery and coolant reservoir. I was thinking of cutting off the plug end and wiring it into a socket and mount the socket behind the lower valance.

Funny you should post this today, I just fished mine out yesterday and was thinking a similar thing. Can it really take that much longer for the assembly line to run the cord.

I ran mine straight forward beside the battery, under the air intake and beside the radiator. It comes out enough that I put a zip tie around the loop for the plug cover and one of the bars in the grill to keep it within easy reach. Another inch or two would be nice, but it is long enough to plug in without opening the hood.

I think the whole process took about 10 minutes. I didn't have to unbolt or move anything. Just a little bit of a squeeze getting my hands in place.


did you remove any of the cord from the factory wire loom? i dont think mine would get even close to the opening on the grill without doing that but i dont think i'll be able to get my hands in there to do the job without removing the air intake or lower fender. what a PITA. it would have been the same amount of time for them to coil it up and zip tie it than to run the cable out and put a little mount for it behind the grill. silly gm.

I routed my heater cord out through the rubberized slot on the passenger side where the hood hinges up. It allows me to zip tie the plug to the antenna and when it's plugged in I can drape the extension cord over the passenger side mirror. This way it sticks out very little, it's secure and not swinging around and it helps me see if it is still plugged in in the morning. Plus its easy to disconnect and store the cord away for the summer.

dont you worry about pinching the cord in the hood when you raise it? i went out to look at what you're talking about and it just felt like an issue waiting to come up.

I pulled mine through this week, took about 30 minutes because I tried to cut corners. Took off the plastic piece on top of radiator to get down behind grill. I unbolted the radiator overflow to give me some more hand room. I used some wire and fished up through and pulled the cord through. I eventually took the fender stuff (1/2) but, I don't remember that being much help.

Moved to Electrical!
I have a permanent extension on mine also. It feeds out through the tow hooks. I hide it in the summer, and bring it out for the winter! It works well.

On my 03 I had plenty of cord to just lay it above the headlight and close the hood, but on this truck I use a trick that I learned on here: pull the passenger side headlight out and fish the plug in thru the opening then reinstall the headlight. There is just enough cord to leave the plug exposed between the headlight and grill if you run the cord right.

edit: I just tried searching for the thread, but for some reason my search function is not working.

I ran mine to the back of the truck, I back into the garage. it is to the right of the right backup light.
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=3317&d=1112229004

[quote=Diceman;2951764]did you remove any of the cord from the factory wire loom? i dont think mine would get even close to the opening on the grill without doing that but i dont think i'll be able to get my hands in there to do the job without removing the air intake or lower fender. what a PITA. it would have been the same amount of time for them to coil it up and zip tie it than to run the cable out and put a little mount for it behind the grill. silly gm.

I didn't remove any of the cord from the wire loom. I just clipped the zip tie that kept the cord bundled up. I didn't remove the air intake either, I fed it around the end and it slipped underneath the air intake.

did you remove any of the cord from the factory wire loom? i dont think mine would get even close to the opening on the grill without doing that but i dont think i'll be able to get my hands in there to do the job without removing the air intake or lower fender. what a PITA. it would have been the same amount of time for them to coil it up and zip tie it than to run the cable out and put a little mount for it behind the grill. silly gm.



The harness comes into the factory plug and play.most of the harness has to stay ontop of the motor til the body is on the truck or car before you can run the wires then there's a bunch of junk blocking it from being ran easy alittle hard to run the way you guys would like to have it when you have anywere from 30 to 48 secs to do your job then the next truck or car is in your work station and you have to be back and ready for that one.

Or you could do what I did
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i276/b_michaels/DSC00755.jpg

Or you could do what I did



And you can tell us what part that was you got so we can do it. PLEASE :)

That is exactly what I wanted to do.

yea, that is sexy. you arent too far away from me..... :D

i went and got an 8 ft extension, i swear that is the shortest i could find local. will be running it through the grill. i like the hard mounted bumper option though and might try to do that in the future.

That's how we roll around here. Got 2 plugs year round through my grill. One for the interior warmer and one for the block heater. I never open the hood looking for cords.

Interior warmer?

Can you explain a little more?

Have you guys ever heard of the arctic leash?

I've had one for years and love it!

http://www.arcticleash.com/

<<<<<<See "HD-Nates" Garage for pictures

And you can tell us what part that was you got so we can do it. PLEASE :)

That is exactly what I wanted to do.

I'd like that set up as well...

Interior warmer?

Can you explain a little more?

Have you guys ever heard of the arctic leash?

I've had one for years and love it!

http://www.arcticleash.com/

<<<<<<See "HD-Nates" Garage for pictures


PM sent.

if you remove the cord from teh wire loom, you can run it down and set it in one of the 2 slots in the front bumper. done that to 3 dmaxs now

i still never have found mine

i still never have found mine

http://hidensneek.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/prego-jolie.jpg

I had to say it. Take the splash shield off. Look at the wiring harness around your 1-2 o clock position. Use a very bright spot light to see. Feel around. It has a rubber cap over the plug. Its all black. Hard to see at times.

http://www.kennedydiesel.com/images/Block_Heater_cable_storage.jpg


I swiped that pic from this :

http://www.kennedydiesel.com/dmaxblockheater.html

eh i had it for 2 winters and havent plugged it in yet it starts every time

without taking my splash shield off i had to lay on the ground and peek around to find it. once i did i just came in from the top, went right to the cable, twisted it around so i could see it and viola.

easy peasy imo.

Hello I don't reply much on here and hope someone see's this reply.I Bought a brand NEW 20 AMP cord when I bought my New 2003 Duramax and it caught fire last Feb and totaly burnt the truck. Just now getting tocourt with GM and they are blaming cord for fire just to get out of paying $64000.00 dollar loss insurance company paid for my losses.

A post in a previous thread on this subject notes that NAPA sells a short extension cord for a block heater. I don't see why an appropriate extension is any more dangerous than the cord itself. I'll be checking.

Hello I don't reply much on here and hope someone see's this reply.I Bought a brand NEW 20 AMP cord when I bought my New 2003 Duramax and it caught fire last Feb and totaly burnt the truck. Just now getting tocourt with GM and they are blaming cord for fire just to get out of paying $64000.00 dollar loss insurance company paid for my losses.

Just make sure you are using a GOOD QUALITY 12/3 extension cord marked heavy duty and you will have no issues. Do not use those 25' extension cords found in the dollar stores. You are asking for trouble.

I can see their point with a cheap cord. My concern is how did the truck catch fire? The extension cord should have had been plugged into an outlet protected by a 15 amp circuit breaker. Why did that not trip? There is something missing from that whole incident.

I plug mine into an outside plug with a GFI receptacle. I did make up a short 5 foot extra thick cable and weatherproofed the end inside the engine compartment. And just for the record I uncoiled the block heater cord, but it was not to my liking, so I made up my own! ;)

dont you worry about pinching the cord in the hood when you raise it? i went out to look at what you're talking about and it just felt like an issue waiting to come up.[/quote]


At first I was concerned about pinching the wire in the hood hinges, but this is the second year I've done it this way and I haven't had a problem yet (knock on wood). I'm just cautious when I close the hood. BTW I included a pic in my garage of how I have mine set up.

I re-routed mine out the front of the truck at the Tow hook! It makes it much easier.

Just make sure you are using a GOOD QUALITY 12/3 extension cord marked heavy duty and you will have no issues. Do not use those 25' extension cords found in the dollar stores. You are asking for trouble.

I can see their point with a cheap cord. My concern is how did the truck catch fire? The extension cord should have had been plugged into an outlet protected by a 15 amp circuit breaker. Why did that not trip? There is something missing from that whole incident.

i agree.. something is missing from this story.

besides. im pretty sure the stock heater cord is smaller then the heavy duty cords you can buy at the store.

here is how i have mine routed. the orange cord is a medium duty cord thats about 2ft long. the stock cord had a wire break inside it so i had to put new ends on it.

http://www.celicatech.com/gallery/files/1/9/cord.JPG

i bought an 8 ft lawn/garden extension so i believe it is rated for outdoors use. i also bought a 50ft outdoor extension to plug into my outlet in the garage, as well as a timer so that it only runs for a couple hours before i go to start it.

corrosion could be a problem in the future but i figure the 8ft extension is cheap enough to replace every year if it starts corroding.

that fire story has me worried though. ugh.

My cord comes out by my passager head light. Works great. Pull the two head light pins, pull headlight out and hang wire. Put back together

one last thought. does anyone have concerns with using their cord in wet environments? they teach you from 1st grade up that water and electricity dont mix. obviously i dont have my plug sitting in a puddle, but it just seems like it will cause issues to have something plugged up in the outdoor element.

btw it is raining right now which is what got me thinking. i plugged it in cause it is nasty cold imo. (like 40). :D

Just bought one today. What a neat idea this was! Time to install now.


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/garageimage.php?do=full&p=78351

Just bought one today. What a neat idea this was! Time to install now.



http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/garageimage.php?do=full&p=78351

From the looks of it, is the female the end that pulls out? If so that wont work for how I want to do it...LMK. Thanks!

It is the MALE end that pulls out.

From the looks of it, is the female the end that pulls out? If so that wont work for how I want to do it...LMK. Thanks!

It is the MALE end that pulls out.

:exactly:

BUT.....you can buy it where the female end reels out also.

I've had mine for years and works great.


<<<<<<---------See the pictures in "HD-Nates Garage" on how I mounted mine.

It is the MALE end that pulls out.

Ok sweet, then I could mount that thing somewhere up front and then just pull it out to the outlet infront of the house.

How long is the cord on it, where did you get it, and how much $ was it?

Thanks

It is the MALE end that pulls out.

Hopefully in time...:D

Hopefully in time...:D


I just realized what I wrote. :D Well from, what you can see it comes out of the "back" hole. The "other" hole :D

Ok sweet, then I could mount that thing somewhere up front and then just pull it out to the outlet infront of the house.

How long is the cord on it, where did you get it, and how much $ was it?

Thanks


www.arcticleash.com

$109.00 + ship.

I got the 18 foot cable.

Just ran mine under the core support and up to the passenger side hole in the bumper. pull it out and plug it up, push it back in and drive away.

Originally I ran mine like mtnbike shows in post number 30 but with out any extension cord.


If you take the inner fender off (which is only about 8 or 9 plastic clips) and undo the cable ties and stretch the cord out and then look at the wire loom there may be one more loop that you may be able to undo to run out the front bumper hole.

After I got tired of that I took some advise and since I always back my truck in at night I ran a 10/3 twenty five foot extension cord to the back bumper and installed a marine plug like olboy shows in the bumper.

Now I just plug the cord from the timer into the bumper and in the mornings even if I forget to unplug the cord (which will and has happened) I can drive off and the cord unplugs itself.

Look in my garage for a couple of pictures.

DD

.

If you guys wanted one - I am selling the one I bought. The arctic leash is posted in the market place. Pic in my garage

Or you could do what I did
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i276/b_michaels/DSC00755.jpg

OlBoy needs to not tease others!!

Google this to find it !

ProMariner AC Plug Holder

If you guys wanted one - I am selling the one I bought. The arctic leash is posted in the market place. Pic in my garage

I already have one and really like it, but just wondering why you dont want yours now?

I already have one and really like it, but just wondering why you dont want yours now?

For the amount of cold we get here, I just can't justify really installing it. Otherwise I would.

I cut the two zip ties that factory packed it with. Did not feel like unwrapping from the loom cause it is a PITA to get to. I run the 3' or so that unwrapped between the batt and coolant reservoir and then tuck it between the batt and pass side qtr panel. When I need to plug in, I do have to open hood (but it is not that frequent) the cord then drops right down and out from the wheel well line. Ext cord rests on upper A arm and plug it in.

That's how we roll around here. Got 2 plugs year round through my grill. One for the interior warmer and one for the block heater. I never open the hood looking for cords.

2 plugs here also - for the interior warmer (blows warm air like a hair dryer to take the chill outta the cab and generally no scraping needed as it'll warm the glass enough to remove frost) and a regular 4 ft block heater extension cord attached to the block heater plug. All zip tied to the passenger tow hook (pic in garage).

To reply to everyones statement on something missing about my 2003 Duramax burning while pluged in while in my garage, I had a totoal investigation of structure and electrical, insurance company hired an electrical engineer for fire investigation and they agreed truck started the fire my circut breaker had triped and only the cord on truck was destroyed. GM is arguing which side fire started in truck. The cord reqirement was for 20A. and truck cord label is only 15A. It is simply WHO has the most money!!