cromwell43 Posted November 1, 2011 Report Share Posted November 1, 2011 We bought a new 2011 Journey Crew and find it does not have a block heater. I was under the impression that all new cars sold in Canada had to have a block heater installed. Can anyone tell me if I am right or not.... Thank you Harv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigtsr Posted November 1, 2011 Report Share Posted November 1, 2011 It is mandatory for Canada. Mine is hard to see,between the TIPM (underhood fuse assy) and the drivers side fender wall. It's all black and the plug has a protective black snap cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisPollard Posted November 2, 2011 Report Share Posted November 2, 2011 Yep, it's tucked away in there. I haven't pulled it out yet, since it isn't cold enough for it, but I've been trying to find a point in the front for that plug to hang out. I'm not a fan of opening and closing the hood to plug/unplug the block heater. Anybody find a good spot for the plug to come out? Got pics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20journey11 Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Seriously? Mandatory block heaters in Canada ? Even for gas engines? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigtsr Posted November 18, 2011 Report Share Posted November 18, 2011 Yes there has been one on every new Chrysler I have owned since 1984 although I never have personally needed to use it as I keep them in a heated garage under the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisPollard Posted November 18, 2011 Report Share Posted November 18, 2011 Not every part of the country gets the cold that we do, but yeah, most gas engines have issues below -40. Coldest day I can remember was in college. January '96 ... -47*C (-52F), windchill was -74*C (-101F). Not too many vehicles started in the city that day ... but I rode my bike 20 minutes to school, only to find classes canceled. At least traffic wasn't bad. :P (Yes, that was exceptionally record breakingly cold, but sub -40 nights in January/February aren't uncommon.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20journey11 Posted November 18, 2011 Report Share Posted November 18, 2011 We have a Ford F-450 work truck with the powerchoke deisel in it. They have some kind of system that heats the whole fuel system up so they don't have to be plugged in anymore. I guess I've never heard of mandatory heaters. I think I will brave the cold we get here, not quite that brutal in Indiana. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisPollard Posted November 18, 2011 Report Share Posted November 18, 2011 Yeah, Indiana doesn't get anything quite like we do. LOL My wife's a Hoosier, so we spend plenty of time every year up in the NW corner ... Although I think I prefer straight up snow over the ice storms you get more of down there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20journey11 Posted November 18, 2011 Report Share Posted November 18, 2011 Yeah, Indiana doesn't get anything quite like we do. LOL My wife's a Hoosier, so we spend plenty of time every year up in the NW corner ... Although I think I prefer straight up snow over the ice storms you get more of down there. She must have been close to us. We are north of Lafayette about 30 miles. Just far enough to not get the lake affect snows they get north of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisPollard Posted November 18, 2011 Report Share Posted November 18, 2011 Crown Point ... about 20 miles south of Gary. They normally miss the lake effect by a few miles too. Usually hits over towards Valpo. You'd be about halfway between there and Indy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powdered Toast Man Posted November 19, 2011 Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 Yeah, some vehicles if left unplugged for an extended period of time below -25 to -30ºC will not start. Extended period being about 8 hours. So, if you go home and forget to plug in the block heater, it probably won't start the next morning. Most businesses where employees park all day have the parking lot wired with plugs at the stalls. It's cold here in January! I just fished my plug out from under the hood for the first time. Found it tucked over by the fuse box. Wow, they don't give you much slack at all... There's just enough to run it out from under the hood and have it hang over the driver's side headlight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisPollard Posted December 4, 2011 Report Share Posted December 4, 2011 I'm not a fan of the cord dangling by/over the headlight. My previous Sebring had a big rubbed in arc in the lens from the plug waving back and forth in the wind while traveling. Not enough cord there to run it out through the grill. Could pull it around the headlight and have it kind of stick out the side of the fender, but that looked ridiculous. Sooooooooooooo after much head scratching, I routed the cord up where the windshield wiper arm attaches. Tried the wiper after, and there is zero interference. Routed the cap behind the plastic bit that covers the cowl, and it JUST hooks up over the ground wire on the plug to hold it in place fairly snugly. So I'll be plugging in the extension cord at the windshield. That should also greatly reduce the odds of driving off while forgetting to unplug it! lol And it's not particularly noticeable. Doesn't really stick out to speak of. Hopefully this works. Supposed to drop to -23 tonight, so I will be plugging in. I know I don't "HAVE" to ... but it's much easier to start up in the morning that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powdered Toast Man Posted December 5, 2011 Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 I'm not a fan of the cord dangling by/over the headlight. My previous Sebring had a big rubbed in arc in the lens from the plug waving back and forth in the wind while traveling. Not enough cord there to run it out through the grill. Could pull it around the headlight and have it kind of stick out the side of the fender, but that looked ridiculous. Sooooooooooooo after much head scratching, I routed the cord up where the windshield wiper arm attaches. Tried the wiper after, and there is zero interference. Routed the cap behind the plastic bit that covers the cowl, and it JUST hooks up over the ground wire on the plug to hold it in place fairly snugly. So I'll be plugging in the extension cord at the windshield. That should also greatly reduce the odds of driving off while forgetting to unplug it! lol And it's not particularly noticeable. Doesn't really stick out to speak of. Hopefully this works. Supposed to drop to -23 tonight, so I will be plugging in. I know I don't "HAVE" to ... but it's much easier to start up in the morning that way. I know exactly what you mean about the "arc" on the headlight. My Caravan did the same thing. Hmm, your idea of routing it back to the windshield is intriguing. I think I may try that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powdered Toast Man Posted December 6, 2011 Report Share Posted December 6, 2011 Update: just pulled the plug back to the windshield. I worked it between the rubber seal and the cowl right over by the edge. Works great! Totally not in the way when not plugged in. I left very little slack so it wouldn't be flapping or dangling. Thanks Chris! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisPollard Posted December 8, 2011 Report Share Posted December 8, 2011 No problem ... it had been bugging me for months. I spent about a half hour trying to figure out where I could route it. The windshield is easy to access, and the cord doesn't hang out enough to flop - or generally be noticed unless you're looking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teambedlam Posted December 8, 2011 Report Share Posted December 8, 2011 Can you post a pic of the cable routing? I'm curious as i am thinking of doing this when my Journey finally arrives. I hate having the cord dangle out and flap around as i drive. thanks No problem ... it had been bugging me for months. I spent about a half hour trying to figure out where I could route it. The windshield is easy to access, and the cord doesn't hang out enough to flop - or generally be noticed unless you're looking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisPollard Posted December 8, 2011 Report Share Posted December 8, 2011 I'll see what I can get for a pic tonight after work. May not be great, since it will be dark already, but it could be enough to give you an idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisPollard Posted December 9, 2011 Report Share Posted December 9, 2011 Okay, not great pics, but it's what I have right now. This is the routing of the cord under the hood. I used the velcro strap to tie it to what I'm pretty sure is the windshield washer fluid hose. This one shows where the cable goes from under the hood to the great outdoors, by the wiper arm. And here's how it looks with the hood closed, and the cap wrapped around to secure it. No shaking, wobbling, rocking, vibrating, etc while driving. And barely noticeable when looking at the vehicle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teambedlam Posted December 9, 2011 Report Share Posted December 9, 2011 Thanks for the pics. I will certainly give that a shot when My Journey finally arrives. Okay, not great pics, but it's what I have right now. This is the routing of the cord under the hood. I used the velcro strap to tie it to what I'm pretty sure is the windshield washer fluid hose. This one shows where the cable goes from under the hood to the great outdoors, by the wiper arm. And here's how it looks with the hood closed, and the cap wrapped around to secure it. No shaking, wobbling, rocking, vibrating, etc while driving. And barely noticeable when looking at the vehicle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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