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

[ursle1]

Originally Posted by unigeezer

There's already a heater in the prius, so what's the reason for installing this?

also, if you live in a cold winter climate the block heater is the difference between starting or not on some days
not to ruffle anyones feathers, but installation from above with the wiper assembly and support tray removed is straight forward and you can see the hole the heater goes in
jmho

[lordbah]

When I finally found the hole I just had to laugh. It's not remotely possible for me to get my arm up there high enough through all the other things underneath the car to reach that area. I don't know how you guys manage it. Hats off to you.

[FireEngineer]

Originally Posted by lordbah

When I finally found the hole I just had to laugh. It's not remotely possible for me to get my arm up there high enough through all the other things underneath the car to reach that area. I don't know how you guys manage it. Hats off to you.

If you stick your arm up there enough your arm diameter does change over time. Besides I found out I don't need all that skin anyway.

Originally Posted by ursle1

also, if you live in a cold winter climate the block heater is the difference between starting or not on some days
not to ruffle anyones feathers, but installation from above with the wiper assembly and support tray removed is straight forward and you can see the hole the heater goes in
jmho

In the Prius with MG1 starting the ICE, winter starting is never a problem, block heater or not. As for the top down method, I'll do 2-3 installs for every 1 someone else does from the top. But it is a matter of comfort for the installer.

Wayne

[Harod]

I installed my block heater last night. Everything went well except I did lose some skin in the process. It doesn't help to have big forearms. There is one screw that you can see in the pics from the guide that is the killer and I can see no other reason to have it protruding that far out other than some engineer deciding to mess with all us DIY installers . I might actually reconsider and go from the top if I had to do it over again. I also lost a significant amount of the grease on my attempt at the hole but when I turned it on the area around the heater was too hot to touch for more than a split second so I won't worry about it and I'm definitely not taking it out again. Thanks to all for what turned out to be invaluable advice.

Rod

[phoskins]

Green Hokie - Thanks for posting this. I installed it this morning and these directions were spot on. I would not have attempted this without directions like this. Believe it or not, the most difficult part for me was jacking up the car and getting it sturdy enough to crawl under. I borrowed some ramps but the angle on them is too high. The bottom area under the lower grill, forward of the tires, hit the ramp before the tires did so that was not going to work. I ended up jacking it up at the center spot in front then put jack stands under at the two front jacking points. Once all that was done I had it in, wired up and plugged in within 30 minutes. No fun to install and I do not care to do it again. I am sure the effort will be worth it when the Connecticut winter arrives. Thanks again.

[EvilTree]

Thanks everyone for the EBH Installation DIY tips, Just installed mine today, directions where perfect, Took me about 45 minutes. Patiences and perseverance is definitely need for this job, but it can be done.

/EvilTree

2008 Silver Pine Mica Package 6
Best MPG - 58.3

Modifications Done
PIAA Sports Horn 500hz + 600hz Auto Horn Upgraded
Reverse Beep Disabled
EBH Installed
ScanGauge II Installed

[Green Hokie]

You're welcome, everyone. Glad the guide/instructions were helpful. I actually had to refer back to it myself recently, cause the power cord to my original EBH went bad. Ended up removing the old EBH and installing a brand new one (with a new power cord).

[Avanhall]

Hi, I am attempting an install as we speak...it feels like there is a cover (some kind of plastic?) covering the whole? Has anyone else found it? I can't figure out a way to remove that little cover! This is an 08 I took delivery on last Friday.

[Avanhall]

Never mind, figured it out! Got it installed! Thanks for all the pictures and explanations!

[hill]

Originally Posted by lordbah

When I finally found the hole I just had to laugh. It's not remotely possible for me to get my arm up there high enough through all the other things underneath the car to reach that area. I don't know how you guys manage it. Hats off to you.

Did you even try? At 6'-5" my arms are too dang long to do it easily, but even so, it WAS doable. Tight? yes. Uncomfortable? yup. But doable. You'd have to have major popeye wide forarms to not be able to reach it.