it says in the owners manual it should be unplugged before you start it, is there any danger to be had if one were to start it with it still plugged in? only reason im asking is i want a remote starter and i always keep it plugged in at night and figured i didnt want to go outside in the cold and unplug it start it and then come back out liek 15 min later after its warmed up to get in it. thanks!

it says in the owners manual it should be unplugged before you start it, is there any danger to be had if one were to start it with it still plugged in? only reason im asking is i want a remote starter and i always keep it plugged in at night and figured i didnt want to go outside in the cold and unplug it start it and then come back out liek 15 min later after its warmed up to get in it. thanks!

Listen to what the owners manual is telling you, if I were you, I'd get a timer and have if shut off 15 minutes before you start the truck and don't forget to unplug it before driving off.

I start mine with the remote starter all the time with it still plugged in and have have never had any problems with it. I wonder what the problem could be by doing this?

I think they tell you that so you won't forget to unplug befor driving away. The unit is not connected to any moving or electrics on the truck,so it should not hurt a thing. It is just a big heating coil stuck into the water jacket to heat the coolant.

I always thought it was something to do with the rush of cold coolant on the HOT element? At least that's what I was always told.

I live in FL.:Nothing_f

Been doing it for 3 years without a problem.

We always do this here. Then, when it starts you go outside and unplug. Have drove off before with it plugged in once.

For sure, go ahead and start it when its plugged in. Theres a lot of crap in this manuals.

It's probably a CYA for forgetting to unplug before driving off, having the extension cord draped around the fan blade, etc. etc.

yeah i kinda figured that, i figured theyre "lawyers" and "safety techs" listed that. i mean some people that dont have common sense shouldnt be able to own these things haha

It's like have welding done on the trailer hitch you can put the ground clamp on the frame of the truck and strick an arc on the hitch and weld ( I WOULDN'T).

OR you will disconnect the battery grounds and put the ground clamp on the hitch, within 6" of the weld. Ground protection is critical.

THE REASONING IS YOU NEVER KNOW the route the ground path will take, which is the path of least resistance, and that could be through an electronic circuit ( eg. BCM)

THE BODY CONTROL MODULE has all kinds of grounding on its circuit boards.

:exactly: Star mine everyday unplug it and go back in...cuz i dont have a remote starter:rant:

I've got that "Sometimers" and have driven off plugged in once. But I back out, and had my block heater wire wire-tied to my towhook so it was a straight pull to unplug when the slack ran out. Only issue was the block heater plug danglin' in the breeze about 2" above the road surface.

it says in the owners manual it should be unplugged before you start it, is there any danger to be had if one were to start it with it still plugged in? only reason im asking is i want a remote starter and i always keep it plugged in at night and figured i didnt want to go outside in the cold and unplug it start it and then come back out liek 15 min later after its warmed up to get in it. thanks!

I have done it more times then I can remember. I have even pulled the extention cord in half once when I forgot to unplug it. There is no way you can do damage to anything. It just heats up the coolant.

Haven't used the engine block heater yet. Walk out, start the truck, go back inside, drink the rest of my cup o' Joe, get in truck and drive away. She's warm enough by then. If it's going to be around single digit temps, I put the grill cover on. I don't know if I will use the heater, but I won't say never. If I do use it, the last thing I want to do is drive away with it still plugged in, so would probably hook up a low-level light in a conspicuous spot that would be on when the circuit was "in-use". If I had a remote starter, I probably wouldn't use it at all. TJMT.

Speaking of block heaters is it supposed to make a noise ( a clicking noise )when it's plugged in?

I've just started to plug mine in and hear that same click. My diesel Jetta never did that when I plugged it in over 11 yrs. I still let it run for 4-5min before slowly taking off.hott rodding or -Drive It like You Stole It- is too expensive... JMO

Thank's, I figured the noise was normal, and I always let my diesel's warm up and drive them easy until they are warm.

I think they tell you that so you won't forget to unplug befor driving away. The unit is not connected to any moving or electrics on the truck,so it should not hurt a thing.

In the winter up here you have to plug your vehicle in all the time. You can usually spot the people that have just moved up here or are going through there first winter up here because they are the ones driving down the street with an extension cord dragging behind them. I leave mine plugged in while it is running, shoot when it is -50 that is the only way the engine gets any heat until you actually start driving it.

I've just started to plug mine in and hear that same click. My diesel Jetta never did that when I plugged it in over 11 yrs. I still let it run for 4-5min before slowly taking off.hott rodding or -Drive It like You Stole It- is too expensive... JMO

If it's quiet, you'll not only hear the "click" but you'll hear a little "sizzle" as the element begins to heat in the water jacket.

shoot when it is -50 that is the only way the engine gets any heat until you actually start driving it.


-50 :eek: BRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

:badidea:


PS. I start mine with the remote start and block heater still plugged in all the time with no problems

I live in FL.:Nothing_f

:funnypost

When I lived an Anchorage, Alaska, I installed an outlet on the same circuit as my outside light. So, when I went to bed at night and turned on the outside light the heater would turn on too. Then in the morning, I would turn off the light and hit my remote start and 15 minutes later, go outside, unplug the extension cord and go to work. I can say there were times I was running late and just hit the remote start when I was still in bed and after I get dressed I went and turned off the switch. Never had a problem... I can say I have never driven off with the extension cord hooked up, but have found several nice extension cords on the roads. :)

Jeff