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

No, nothing to remove, no oil to drain. Just find the hole. One tip, I was look for a hole that ran vertical, up from the bottom to the top. The hole runs laterally with the aperture on the left side, inserting towards the right.

 

Yes, of course... If one using HV pack to heat up the engine block, they alson need to factor in the SOC of the HV pack as well. The worst is when you only have 1 bar left, drained the HV battery & 12 V battery dry on a Freezing Monday morning. hehe...

 

nice sticky!

 

These instructions were fantastic! 35 minute install - no problem. Then we tried on my dad's Yaris - that took about 5 hours with a lot of disassembly....I wouldn't do one of those again...

 

On a Yaris? Has it helped on the MPG's?

 

Don't know yet - just installed it this afternoon. It was the same part, though the installation was upside down of the prius and we had to shave down some of the clip to get it in. That does not even consider all of the disassembly required to get at it. This is my dad's car - he is currently getting about 40 MPG...I'm talking him into pumping up the PSI on his tires and using the block heater daily. He is also buying a scan guage which will be invaluable to him without an MFD on the Yaris.

 

I just called my dealer in West Bend. He claims an EBH is not available for my '08.

Looks like I'm going shopping online. Anyone know who might have one "in stock"?

 

I just wanted to say that the guide provided by Green Hokie in the original post in this thread works for Prius Classic models too. I just installed a block heater in my 2003 Prius and had no problem. Thanks for the excellent photos. I never would have figured it out without this help.

AM

 

I found the install of the Engine Block Heater to be pretty straigtforward on my wife's 2008 Prius. It took a little over thirty five minutes but perhaps that's because I'm used to working in blind engine compartments on sailboat diesel engines. In the 2008 manual the instructions for removal of the front engine cover are found on page 356. I did manage to break one of the little fasteners but so goes it. I've lived in the cold regions of the US for most of my life and have always relied on engine block heaters and found this to be a pleasant surprise in that I didn't have to knock out a freeze plug to do the install. Thanks for the great instructions on how to do this install.

 

I ordered my EBH from my Florida dealership today. I currently live in St. Louis, Missouri and the dealer here said he couldn't get one. So I called my old dealer back home, and he special ordered one for me for $38. I thought it was a good deal. However, I'm not planning on installing this myself (never worked on cars before!), does any one have a clue what installs are costing? Also, I read something about a timer; where would I acquire one of these? I live in an apt complex, and I'm going to have to run an extension cord across the lawn everyday to plug this in.

I'm really hoping this mod helps my MPGs going into my first real winter, I drive a 4 mile commute back and forth everyday. That short 10 minute trip trashes my average in the summer, so I'm really not looking forward to dipping temps!

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

The heck with that, St. Louis is a day trip for me, just let me know if you want me to install it.

Wayne

 

Wow! You guys are great! I suspect the part is still a few weeks out, and with my schedule I don't know that I will be able to make a trip out. I know we all love to drive our priuses, but I think its a little much to ask to you to drive 5 hours to help. I'm still going to call the dealer just to ask how much to install just to see. Much thanks for the offering!!!

How does the timer work? is it something that is used on the plug-in end here in the house? Just wondering what I'd be looking for when I go for it.

 

Re: I installed mine today, no major problems

Except that you need to feel the engine / transaxle up until you find the hole. The first time is always so special...

 

Re: I installed mine today, no major problems

Where haven't I driven to install one. If the dealer charges more than 30 minutes of labor, they're guessing on your dime.

And then there are those of us who have a different Prius in every town just waiting for us......

Wayne

 

Today, I installed my EBH, and here are some more pictures.


Where I took the pictures.

The EBH is behind a bolt in the picture. If you look closely, the EBH Plug is Orange.


Another couple of pictures. For referance, there is a black plate(appx 3/4" x 3" in size) that you will see and feel. On the TOP of the plate, you can feel the tube that the coil fits into. Follow that to the Drivers side for about 1 inch and you should get to the Edge that you go past and find the hole the coil goes into. Where I took the pictures from, you can not reach the hole. Even f you could, you probably would NOT want to touch the HOT Muffler!

The Steaks

 

Sorry if this question has been covered elsewhere in this long thread, but what's the proper way of using the plastic cover that fits over the electrical plug? I thought it might be a good way to keep the plug from flying around loose behind the grille, so I attached the plastic cover to the grille and fit the plug into it for "storage." It then wedges nicely between two grille slats. But I'm finding that this doesn't really hold the plug securely and, more often than not, I find the plug lying loose behind the grille.

So now my second thought is to attach the cap to the wire itself. Then, when the plug gets dislodged from the grille, at least the prongs on the plug will be protected.

The French Lexus installation instructions that came with the EBH didn't cover this small detail. What did you do with the plastic cap? How do you store the plug before you drive off?