So I figured out how to install my block heater

[lee]

I installed mine this weekend. Jesse at Metro Toyota supplied the heater and I used the instructions I found in this thread. To get under the car I used Rhino plastic ramps that I've had for several years (purchased at Wal-Mart), and a roll-around creeper. It was a bit of a pain to to do, and I did get a few scratches on my hands, but overall I would rate the job as pretty simple. Incidentally, I felt that the heater element's clip's final orientation was more like 4 o'clock. I wasn't able to pull it out against once I pushed it in, so I'm pretty it's in there correctly. Getting the wire fished and connected was easier than I expected it to be.

I did notice that the starter hole cover plate was upside down, but it hadn't caused any abrasion to the wiring harness that's near it, so I left it alone for now. I have an oil change to do in about 1K miles, so I'll probably take care of that issue then.

[FireEngineer]

Horacio that is some nice install. Where did you get the PHEV plug in the front from?

Wayne

[mrbigh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FireEngineer @ Oct 17 2006, 01:32 PM) [snapback]333997[/snapback]</div>

Horacio that is some nice install. Where did you get the PHEV plug in the front from?

Wayne
[/b]

Hi Wayne, the twistlock is a Marinco/Hubbell all wheater connector with a cover and a piece of dianomd plate as a handle, mounted on a piece of plexiglass as a reinforcement. This electrical device handles 50A 250VCA. The interconnect wire is a heffty 6/3 to carry al the juice.

[FireEngineer]

Horacio, your not future planning that PHEV are you?!!

Wayne

[mrbigh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FireEngineer @ Oct 18 2006, 09:49 AM) [snapback]334390[/snapback]</div>

Horacio, your not future planning that PHEV are you?!!

Wayne
[/b]

Is on the works, waiting for some hardware to complete.......

[hobbit]

Wow, over 300 posts in this thread! And I even remember when it all
began! [does that make me an old fart?]
.
Mrbigh, for some reason I can't discern what's where in your pix
of the block. I do agree that pulling the cowl is absolutely the
right way to do this, and having had my own heater arrive a couple
of days ago [Thanx Jesse!] I'm going to eventually get it in there.
I'll try to do a photo-essay on it too, including details on how
easy it is to pull the cowl, because I think more people need to
know this. While I'm in there I'm hoping to make a few improvements
in the warm-air intake ducting because I don't think it's working
quite right yet. Might even pull the *hood* to make it easier.
.
Oh, and see how that fuel line is routed through a little squiggly
loop hanging in midair just behind the engine? The engine *moves*
relative to the firewall, so you definitely want a bit of "service
loop" in any wiring that jumps from frame to engine. With the cowl
out I expect to be able to dress the EBH wiring back nicely, and
not lose an arm in the process...
.
_H*

[mrbigh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hobbit @ Oct 18 2006, 12:08 PM) [snapback]334487[/snapback]</div>

Wow, over 300 posts in this thread! And I even remember when it all
began! [does that make me an old fart?]
.
Mrbigh, for some reason I can't discern what's where in your pix
of the block. I do agree that pulling the cowl is absolutely the
right way to do this, and having had my own heater arrive a couple
of days ago [Thanx Jesse!] I'm going to eventually get it in there.
....
[/b]

Yea, it is difficult to understand what you are looking at the pictures with out a white paper essay.... I suck at it, I will try to be more “explicit”, also there where some pictures with some more detail but these came blurry, I realized it when everything was complete and didn't post.
Once you have the engine compartment with out the offensive mechanical (and it is not necessary to remove the hood!) materials it is not to difficult to understand the area in question, digging in the right side of the engine block and the converter on its right , 10'' of the firewall and almost 8" down is a pipe with a rubber hose attached to it (name and function are irrelevant at this moment), to approach this with the EBH you have to fit your left hand from behind the engine block and the fire wall, right below of the pipe and hose is the opening, it is not visible anywhere from the top (to take this pictures was a JOB and I use a macro feature of the camera), the three pictures in series show where the EBH is inserted, only 1/3 of the way in. It does help a lot having a drop light shinning the area from the side. Trying to insert the EBH looks like a blind proctologist job and patience is virtue, it isn’t a lot a room to play there. Get the Band-Aid box and peroxide near by, you won’t leave the “war area” with out a skin abrasion.
Hope this lines clarified a little the installation for hands on clean job, and be ready to do an extensive Essay on the matter, the crowd is waiting.

[hobbit]

Oh -- the reason I'm thinking about the hood too is that apparently
that's a common thing done by techs when they go to work on stuff
near the firewall. When I was trying to see down around the heat
shield over the first cat and align the warm-air hose, it was
actually in the way. So just having it off will probably help and
then I can get all this stuff done more easily in one shot.
.
White paper essay? I love those, don'tcha know! Ooh, a challenge...
.
_H*

[dmckinstry]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mrbigh @ Oct 15 2006, 05:00 PM) [snapback]333173[/snapback]</div>

I installed mine yesterday, my first aproach was from under carriage and I couldn't pinpoint the rigth place, so I remember " hobbits" guidance, and my next attempt was from the top of the engine.
I removed the wipers, the wipers plastic skirt and the gutter below with the relay box and harness. All engine compartment and the fire wall is exposed and very easy to see behinde the scene of the Synergy Drive mechanics; it took a little diging and searching but finaly I found the opening. I tryed installing it with the harness attached but it is NOT enough room in the area. I squirted the heat sink/heat disipator compound first inside of the opening or almost all of it and then I shove it for good, the clip locks at 3 pm position and later the wiring plug, it is triangular shaped, so NOT mistakes can be made. Routed the harness through the back on the firewal and install the "thermostat" in the front of the engine for easy adjustment and control.
Engine compartment without wiper mechanism and gutter, the fire wall is easy accesible
The EBH is electricaly connected to an outdoor variable set point thermostat, the mounting place is near the radiator and the sensing bulb in front of it

Now I'm waiting for temperature below 40F to take advantage of the features of the EBH.
[/b]

I finally got some low profile ramps (not Rhino, but apparently the same design as the slope is only 15 degrees) from Schuck's this week. I had a little time this afternoon, before going to an evening meeting in a few minutes from now, so drove up on the ramps to take a look. I couldn't find the right location either. I saw several holes below the exhaust manifold, but know they weren't right. I think I may have seen the right location, but there's no way I could get my hand up there, let alone my arm. I'm assuming Ken's photos must have been taken with the engine out of the car, as I couldn't find any clearance under it to even get a good view.

Anyway, I think I'll use your approach this weekend. It may take longer, but from above (after taking off the relay box) I think I'll have a better view and more room. Then I'll decide whether or on to take off the rest of what you removed. Thanks for the photos. They'll be a big help.

Dave M.

[lee]

It's impossible to see the location from underneath the car. You have to do it by feel. If you look at the pictures near the beginning this thread it will give you a pretty good idea of where you have to reach up to find the hole.