How can you tell if you Block Heater is working?

[whitecastle]

My car has started like ass the last two days even though it's been plugged in. It used to start so smooth if it had been plugged in. I know the outlet and the cord work as I tested them.


Anyway to test teh Block heater?

[R_Ethug]

Re: How can you tell if you Block Heater is working?

pop your hood and listen to your engine you should hear a hissing sound

[whitecastle]

Re: How can you tell if you Block Heater is working?

While the car is off, and after I have plugged it in?

[R_Ethug]

Re: How can you tell if you Block Heater is working?

yes

[Aleks]

Re: How can you tell if you Block Heater is working?

but do these have a block heater, or an oil pan heater.....the oil pan heater would be better for the turbo, keeping oil viscosity lower......

[Flanders]

Re: How can you tell if you Block Heater is working?

Your car is gonna start like poo because of the battery, not necessarily because of a malfunctioning block heater! Your battery loses 1/2 it's cranking power when it's below 0 degrees...

my battery is only 2.5 years old, and I just had to replace it today. After 3 boosts already this winter, it can't hold a charge worth a damn.

[Deuce]

Re: How can you tell if you Block Heater is working?

Your car is gonna start like poo because of the battery, not necessarily because of a malfunctioning block heater! Your battery loses 1/2 it's cranking power when it's below 0 degrees...

my battery is only 2.5 years old, and I just had to replace it today. After 3 boosts already this winter, it can't hold a charge worth a damn.

Once you boost a battery a couple of times... regardless of how old it is... they're pretty much toast.

Enjoy the weather everyone!!

[bart]

Re: How can you tell if you Block Heater is working?

ahah, you guys should get tdi batteries, bigger amp'age, lol, bigger battery. today was a record long ass start for me. i never plugged my car in before, i will start tomorrow. anyway, took about 10 seconds for the glow plug light to go off, and another 10-15 of me holding the key, and keeping the car running purely on battery power, until it got warm enough in there for the diesel to start burning, lol.

i will see what kind of difference my block heater can make, i am hoping i get warm air flow right away, lol. its plugged in right now in my garage, see how it starts tomorrow morning, but i couldnt hear a hissing sound.

[MrHeavyFoot]

Re: How can you tell if you Block Heater is working?

i will see what kind of difference my block heater can make, i am hoping i get warm air flow right away, lol. its plugged in right now in my garage, see how it starts tomorrow morning, but i couldnt hear a hissing sound.

I don't know about the TDI, but my 1.8T only has an oil pan heater. I imagine that's all any of the gas engines have. If that's what you've got, don't expect heat right away.

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: How can you tell if you Block Heater is working?

Its all about the garage baby However I think my battery could be on its last legs, pretty sure it is the orginal from 98 so I think an Optima could be in my future!

[TDi_Steve]

Re: How can you tell if you Block Heater is working?

My TDi was the same yesterday...took about 15 sec for the glow plug and a lot of cranking of the battery.... whoowee it was stiff.

[gaffer]

Re: How can you tell if you Block Heater is working?

Hey, check this out from a thead on the 'tex. Finally a car mod that my wife might approve of. This would be the greatest thing, esp being able to phone your car to tell it to warm up.

Gaf

"Well I do know we (Hillside Imports) are bringing Standheizungen to the US ( a Factory OEM Option from VW). A basic translation of the word is Parking Heater. The is a really cool unit that is offered as an option in Germany and most of the world. I had it on the Phaeton this last December in Germany, The unit is really handy you can set warm up times at different times of the day in which a small furnace which runs off the cars fuel system is switched on. This unit when switched on preheats engine coolent and circulates through the engine block and heater core and when the coolent reaches a certian temp. the HVAC fan in side the car is switched on and heat the entire car inside.. very nice for cold weather because is also defrosts all the windows also, another nice point of it as it works on manuals just as easy as it does on automatic because the unit does not start the engine. There are a few options that you can add to the unit one is the options Remote control which works up to 600M away from the car, the option is call Thermo Call, this is where you can phone your car and schedule a time you want the unit to switch on and preheat the car.
I will tell you this is the best and most functional feature I have ever used on a car. Once you have the unit you will not want to be without it.

If you have anymore questions on this unit you can phone the shop here at 1-877-581-8204 or email me at dgrayson@hillsideimports.com"

[R_Ethug]

Re: How can you tell if you Block Heater is working?

thats crazy cool!

[QuA]

Re: How can you tell if you Block Heater is working?

Damn my car is sounding pretty deep in the cold. Starting it up it sounds loud. Yikes.... when is this cold gonna end?

QuA

[1.8Trip]

Re: How can you tell if you Block Heater is working?

Hey, check this out from a thead on the 'tex. Finally a car mod that my wife might approve of. This would be the greatest thing, esp being able to phone your car to tell it to warm up.

Gaf

"Well I do know we (Hillside Imports) are bringing Standheizungen to the US ( a Factory OEM Option from VW). A basic translation of the word is Parking Heater. The is a really cool unit that is offered as an option in Germany and most of the world. I had it on the Phaeton this last December in Germany, The unit is really handy you can set warm up times at different times of the day in which a small furnace which runs off the cars fuel system is switched on. This unit when switched on preheats engine coolent and circulates through the engine block and heater core and when the coolent reaches a certian temp. the HVAC fan in side the car is switched on and heat the entire car inside.. very nice for cold weather because is also defrosts all the windows also, another nice point of it as it works on manuals just as easy as it does on automatic because the unit does not start the engine. There are a few options that you can add to the unit one is the options Remote control which works up to 600M away from the car, the option is call Thermo Call, this is where you can phone your car and schedule a time you want the unit to switch on and preheat the car.
I will tell you this is the best and most functional feature I have ever used on a car. Once you have the unit you will not want to be without it.

If you have anymore questions on this unit you can phone the shop here at 1-877-581-8204 or email me at dgrayson@hillsideimports.com"

I gotta get one of those!! How much are they? It'd be cool if they also had the cooling version too for those hot summer dayz!