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

patsparks · 10-10-2007, 03:06 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hill @ Oct 11 2007, 01:59 AM) [snapback]523651[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Your kidding right? Inside joke I missed? Set 'em as light/dark as you want. The cheezy stock picture manager program that comes w/ your O.S. will do it for you (ie, do it yourself) after you download them.
[/b]

Maybe you could make them bigger too please?

Hey has anyone thought about putting a small heater inside the cabin running on the same timer as the EBH to pre-heat the cabin reducing reliance on the ICE to heat the cabin? Would only need a couple hundred watts I would think. A thermostatically controlled heater would minimise waste. It could mount under the front seat or under the dash out of the way.

nmrickie · 10-19-2007, 05:55 PM

Does anyone have advice on connecting to power cord to the heating rod?

I found the right hole right away. Rod went in without a hitch, clip toward rear of vehicle, easily snapped into place. Took me 10 minutes. I thought "this is going too easy".

For the last hour and a half I've tried and tried to get the cord plugged into the rod. I thought I had the orientation figured out beforehand. I've tried every which way. I don't think I'm getting close at all. I'm about ready to give up.

Does anyone remember which way the power cord faces when connected to the heating rod?

ndberg · 10-20-2007, 05:44 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nmrickie @ Oct 19 2007, 05:55 PM) [snapback]527912[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Does anyone remember which way the power cord faces when connected to the heating rod?
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I have a new EBH sitting in front of me, hopefully I can describe this in words.. If I hold the cord with the holes of the connector facing me, and the cord hanging straight down, the holes look like a face -- 2 eyes at the top, and the mouth at the bottom. In this position, the heating rod would have the clip also straight down.

In other words, once the cord is plugged in, the cord should stick out of the heating rod in the same direction as the clip sticks out of the heating rod.

Hope this helps!

tsalfie · 10-25-2007, 06:38 PM

Great guide. I got mine installed in about 20 minutes. It could have taken hours without this post. If anyone in the Boise, Idaho area needs help with this, I'd be happy to lend a hand.

danatt · 10-25-2007, 09:35 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nmrickie @ Oct 19 2007, 05:55 PM) [snapback]527912[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Does anyone have advice on connecting to power cord to the heating rod?

I found the right hole right away. Rod went in without a hitch, clip toward rear of vehicle, easily snapped into place. Took me 10 minutes. I thought "this is going too easy".

For the last hour and a half I've tried and tried to get the cord plugged into the rod. I thought I had the orientation figured out beforehand. I've tried every which way. I don't think I'm getting close at all. I'm about ready to give up.

Does anyone remember which way the power cord faces when connected to the heating rod?
[/b]

The 3 holes in the plug form a triangle. We'll call the apex of the triangle the hole pointing in the direction of the cord. When the plug is connected to the heater, the apex is pointing towards the rear of the vehicle.

I did the install a couple weeks ago. This post was extremely helpful.

nmrickie · 10-26-2007, 03:13 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(danatt @ Oct 25 2007, 07:35 PM) [snapback]530526[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

The 3 holes in the plug form a triangle. We'll call the apex of the triangle the hole pointing in the direction of the cord. When the plug is connected to the heater, the apex is pointing towards the rear of the vehicle.

I did the install a couple weeks ago. This post was extremely helpful.
[/b]

Thanks. I ended up taking a break and trying the next morning. I did get it to fit.

satwood · 12-02-2007, 08:47 PM

Hey Guys,

I just wanted to say thanks for some very well written instructions. When I started the project I tried to find the hole for the heater without looking at the pictures and I would NEVER have been able to find it. I was looking near the oil pan - i.e. to heat the oil. This hole is way up higher near the #4 cylinder. Thanks for saving me a lot of time.

The heater raises the engine block temperature about 45 degrees F based on my sampling with an IR thermometer this morning. It was 25 degrees when I went outside. the heater was plugged in all night, and the front of the block averaged around 65 degrees. The rear of the block near the center was over 70 degrees. It seems to work very well.

Steve

GeneD · 12-07-2007, 01:50 PM

Does anyone know how much power the engine block heater draws?

Also, how long do you need to power it to warm up the coolant?

adegiulio · 12-08-2007, 04:58 PM

Just got mine installed. Finding the hole was a piece of cake (thanks to this thread). For me, snaking my arm up there and actually getting the heater into the hole was a big pain in the butt. Kinda wish I had an extra elbow

JimboK · 12-08-2007, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeneD

Does anyone know how much power the engine block heater draws?

Also, how long do you need to power it to warm up the coolant?

It draws about 400W.

The consensus seems to be that a 3-hour prewarm time is optimal.

10-19-2007, 05:55 PM	#42
nmrickie Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New Mexico Posts: 186 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	Does anyone have advice on connecting to power cord to the heating rod? I found the right hole right away. Rod went in without a hitch, clip toward rear of vehicle, easily snapped into place. Took me 10 minutes. I thought "this is going too easy". For the last hour and a half I've tried and tried to get the cord plugged into the rod. I thought I had the orientation figured out beforehand. I've tried every which way. I don't think I'm getting close at all. I'm about ready to give up. Does anyone remember which way the power cord faces when connected to the heating rod? __________________ 2010 Package V with Nav

12-07-2007, 01:50 PM	#48
GeneD Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Manchester,CT Posts: 1 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	EBH Power USe Does anyone know how much power the engine block heater draws? Also, how long do you need to power it to warm up the coolant?

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10-25-2007, 06:38 PM	#44
tsalfie Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 4 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Great guide. I got mine installed in about 20 minutes. It could have taken hours without this post. If anyone in the Boise, Idaho area needs help with this, I'd be happy to lend a hand.

12-02-2007, 08:47 PM	#47
satwood Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Webster, MA, New England, USA Posts: 75 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	Hey Guys, I just wanted to say thanks for some very well written instructions. When I started the project I tried to find the hole for the heater without looking at the pictures and I would NEVER have been able to find it. I was looking near the oil pan - i.e. to heat the oil. This hole is way up higher near the #4 cylinder. Thanks for saving me a lot of time. The heater raises the engine block temperature about 45 degrees F based on my sampling with an IR thermometer this morning. It was 25 degrees when I went outside. the heater was plugged in all night, and the front of the block averaged around 65 degrees. The rear of the block near the center was over 70 degrees. It seems to work very well. Steve

12-08-2007, 04:58 PM	#49
adegiulio Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Red Hook NY Posts: 13 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Just got mine installed. Finding the hole was a piece of cake (thanks to this thread). For me, snaking my arm up there and actually getting the heater into the hole was a big pain in the butt. Kinda wish I had an extra elbow