I have a 2003 neon se with what seems to be a block heater. The temperature dropped to -12 last night so i plugged it in for the first time. So I go out this morning and start the car and its cold as ice, no different than any other morning. I dont know how to fix this. I looked at the plug part of the cord and it looks ok and the other end goes down behind the engine where i cant see. There is no noise or anything when i plug it in. Does anyone have any ideas on how to go about checking it?
Cheers
alaskaneon
11-24-2007, 03:00 PM
-12?? I live in Alaska and its been no colder than 12 above here, yet, where in the world are you?! LOL! As for your question, I'd tell you what I'd do. I'd jack the car up and do a closer inspection of the block heater, see if there is anything obvious. If it appears to be fine, remove it and get a new one and install.
dodgeneonACR98
11-25-2007, 09:51 AM
Im not sure what a block heater heats up. Do they actually heat up the block or do they heat up the oil inside the block to work internaly? I wouldn't know but if they heat up the oil a bit to keep it warm, the block (by feel) would never feel warm. Maybe the oil pan? I wouldn't know man srry and GL with it.
alaskaneon
11-25-2007, 12:43 PM
ACR, block heater does just what it says, it heats the lower engine block. When it gets crazy cold outside your engine oil gets pretty thick and hard to crank. With the block heater it keeps things loose and warm so when you crank the engine over (cold is hard on everything) it doesn't take as much to turn it over which your battery enjoys as well since it doesn't perform very well after sitting outside in negative weather all night long.
dodgeneonACR98
11-25-2007, 06:28 PM
I realize that it heats up the block but does it heat up the actuall block or does it heat up the oil which inturn heats the block. thats what I dont know.
It rarely gets into the teens here for long. Thank heavens.
alaskaneon
11-25-2007, 09:19 PM
bolts to the bottom end of the block where it is closest to the oil level in the pan. Best I can tell ya!
RogerDarci
12-04-2007, 07:16 PM
It is actually a heating element that goes into a coolant jacket inside the engine block. It heats the engine coolant/antifreeze and makes it easier to start, faster to warm up, etc.
dodgeneonACR98
12-04-2007, 07:41 PM
Hey thanks for clearing that up.
Rick99
12-04-2007, 07:45 PM
It is actually a heating element that goes into a coolant jacket inside the engine block. It heats the engine coolant/antifreeze and makes it easier to start, faster to warm up, etc.
This is correct. I just installed one on my wife's town and country. One of the "freeze plugs" on the block is removed and the heater is inserted so it heats the antifreeze. If you feel the top of the block (not the intake or something), it should be warm to the touch if the thing is working. You should also take a look at it-- the other end of the electrical wire plugs into the heater and it could get pulled out.
