Want to install an Engine Block Heater yourself? This guide may help.

[bat4255]

Originally Posted by biff_debris

What did you do with the plastic cap? How do you store the plug before you drive off?

I put the plug through the grill, then slid the plug through the end of the cap with the hole keeping the cap on the cord. Attach the cap on the plug, then just press fit the plug (with the cap) between the fins of the grill. It seems to stay quite well for us.

[rpg51]

I do that exact same thing - tuck the plug with cap between the grill fins. I'm beginning to worry a bit thought that the constant movement of folding up the thing in the same way may cause a failure down the road. I'm searching for another way. I might make up a short "patch" cord and use that to do all the bending. Still not sure.

[Lacarp]

I tried to install my heater last night and I only have one comment; you people must be double jointed contortionists! I located the hole with my left hand (after a good bit of groping) but despite about 8 attempts at a practice "dry-fit" into the hole, I can't get it in there!

Then I thought about this; OK, now I've got the heater all goobered up with the thermal grease, how am I going to get it up, oriented and inserted without wiping all the grease off during my contortions?! I was flipping and flopping the heater around in my fingertips so many ways & directions that I can't imagine this working!

My car ramps aren't real high (they're those plastic gradual slope ramps that are necessary to use so they don't contact the bottom cowling of the car when you drive up on them), and that might be part of my problem. My face was almost in contact with the underside of the car when I was working, and maybe that constricted my arm orientations. I'll try it again tonight with a jack and jack-stands for a little more vertical lift; but I'm teiing you, my first reaction is that my body geometrics aren't going to let this work!

I also looked at the approach of taking off the top cowling, wipers and the rest but decided that it was even more unfeasable.

LADIES & GENTLEMEN, I AM VERY FRUSTRATED!!!!!!!!!!

[Santiago]

Keep us posted... I was considering an EBH until I read your post. I'm definitely not double-jointed.

[Lacarp]

Yes I'm a little confused; how can all of these other folks have had no real serious issues and I can't do it? I'm not mechanically inept, just frustrated.

[Rxmxsh]

Originally Posted by Lacarp

I tried to install my heater last night and I only have one comment; you people must be double jointed contortionists! I located the hole with my left hand (after a good bit of groping) but despite about 8 attempts at a practice "dry-fit" into the hole, I can't get it in there!

Then I thought about this; OK, now I've got the heater all goobered up with the thermal grease, how am I going to get it up, oriented and inserted without wiping all the grease off during my contortions?! I was flipping and flopping the heater around in my fingertips so many ways & directions that I can't imagine this working!

My car ramps aren't real high (they're those plastic gradual slope ramps that are necessary to use so they don't contact the bottom cowling of the car when you drive up on them), and that might be part of my problem. My face was almost in contact with the underside of the car when I was working, and maybe that constricted my arm orientations. I'll try it again tonight with a jack and jack-stands for a little more vertical lift; but I'm teiing you, my first reaction is that my body geometrics aren't going to let this work!

I also looked at the approach of taking off the top cowling, wipers and the rest but decided that it was even more unfeasable.

LADIES & GENTLEMEN, I AM VERY FRUSTRATED!!!!!!!!!!

I feel you pain, believe me. I tried twice from the bottom. Then I decided to go in from the top. That was MUCH better for me. Took about an hour, but there was no stress, it just took time. MUCH easier.

[PaulHS]

Originally Posted by Lacarp

Yes I'm a little confused; how can all of these other folks have had no real serious issues and I can't do it? I'm not mechanically inept, just frustrated.

I think you are right; you probably just need a little more elbow room under the car, that's all. I found the installation was easy; easier in fact than routing the electrical cable to the grille.

Are you left handed? Do you have large hands? These could make the install a bit more difficult.

[Lacarp]

Are you left handed? Do you have large hands?


No I'm right handed and 6' 2" at about 200 lbs. I'm sort of tall & thin. My hands are not huge, just proportional to my height. If anything I have long fingers, but not meat-hook hands. I tried to use my right hand, I had heard some say that they found that approach easier; but I just couldn't find the way to reach the hole that way. My sort of long arms (35" shirt fit) just couldn't angle in properly. I'm hoping that my low car ramps are the reason for my problem here.

[Lacarp]

I feel you pain, believe me. I tried twice from the bottom. Then I decided to go in from the top. That was MUCH better for me. Took about an hour, but there was no stress, it just took time. MUCH easier.

I started to try that last night. I got the top cowling loosened, took off one of the black oxide nuts holding one of my wipers on and tried to pry it off. It wouldn't budge. Than I looked at other posts here that talk about doing all this and even pulling the hood off and I put the brakes on that approach. Did you have to do all that going in from the top? The only reason I started this adventure was that it sounded so easy based on what I read here.

Not for this cowboy!

[bat4255]

I started at the bottom, and thought it was "problematic", then thought about doing it from the top, Too many parts to remove, so I declined that Idea. After 10 minutes, I got a dry fit, from the bottom. My left hand worked best. (I'm right handed) Then I put some grease on the plug, and it was so slippery, I kept loosing it. So I took more grease, and applied it on the end of my finger, then installed it in the hole, much easier. After cleaning the plug, I could finally install it in the block.

Total time 1 hr., including the routing for the cord.