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

Now you can do the next one in about 1/2 hr.

 

That's probably true, but it would have to be for somone like Jessica Simpson or Halle Berry. The reasons there should be obvious.

 

Lacarp, you were my inspiration. If you could do it after your rough beginning, I figured I could too. Here's my "lesson learned" adventure.

I finally found the hole, and after several "dry" inserts, I greased it up and locked it in place. The key for me was to loosely secure it to my finger with a rubber band so I wasn't concerned about dropping it when I was moving it to the extreme left to insert it.

After an hour or so trying to plug the AC line into it (even though I thought I knew the proper orientation of the female plug), I finally had to release the core and rotate it a couple of times (just a few degrees) and I finally made contact.

A quick plug into AC to check it out nearly burned my probing finger but all's well that end's well. My only remaining question is how do I secure the male AC plug to the lower grill? It wants to pull out when I plug it in to the power cord.

 

I successfully installed an EBH in my 09 Prius this Friday. Thanks to Green Hokie for the guide.

My hands look like I fended off an enraged squirrel, but the block heats up nicely and the wiring is user-friendly.

-tew

 

Is there another EBH Group Buy going on, or planned?

 

I finally got around to install the EBH today. Kinda tricky but doable. Patience was key. That and a certain oblivion to cuts and scratches.

Anyhow, I recall there was a thread that discussed various ways to tie the power cord down using a patch cord, but can't seem to find it using different search terms. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

Ah, found it!

http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-modifications/54910-i-get-do-my-2nd-ebh-install-2.html

 

And here's where you can buy a short 14AWG extension cord:

10in Outlet Saver Power Extension Cord

 

I ordered this extension cord and received it yesterday, only to realize that it's 18AWG. I thought I read in the other thread that the recommended gauge is 14AWG.

Q: Is 18AWG enough, or should I return this and get a 14? What is the AWG of the built-in cable?

 

I wouldn't use 18 AWG. When I was posting in that thread, I looked at a lot of on-line places to try to find a 14 AWG extender. I couldn't find one. and a lot of the sites don't even tell you what gauge there's are. I wish I could remember where I'd found the one I'm using. I'd bought it at least 2 years ago. And there's nothing on it to indicate who made it. My best guess is that it was at a home improvement store.

 

Appears to me the built-in cable is not 14AWG. Am I missing something?

 

Finally found a 14AWG 1' Outlet Extender made by GE at Staples. It's rated for 13A and 1600W max, so that should be sufficient.

If anyone's interested in such a rare thing, you might want to stop by your local Staples. Those things are so hard to find...

 

Green Hokie,

Thanks for this thread and to everyone that added their incite and suggestions. This made what would have been a very difficult job one that I thought I could do. The pictures gave me the confidence that I had found the right hole. Especially picture #6 that showed the rounded side of the hole molded in the engine block.

The job took me around 2 hours including clean up.

One concern I had about my install is if I lost too much grease off the EBH. After a few dry runs to map out my approach to the hole, my final run with the grease did not go bad, but I fumbled with the EBH and hit it on some parts of the engine losing some grease. It slid in the hole without much resistance. Has anyone that has done this install and not lost much grease found that the EBH slid in the hole with little resistance? I have read in some threads that the EBH grease traps air and causes a lot of resistance when going into the hole. I just want to make sure I did not screw up and lost too much grease.

Thanks again

 

That is a relief. What is the life span of these block heaters? Do they need any maintenance, or should I just check it periodically with a meter to make sure its pulling 400 plus watts? Kill-A-Watt I read is a good meter to use.???

 

Yeah, I will keep this in mind. Thanks again for all your help!!

 

That sounds cheap enough I will keep this in mind. I sure do not want to have to reinstall that cord if I do not have to!!!