Block heater fuse?

[New6.0PSOwner]

I had my block heater plugged in Friday night when it got down to the upper teens. When I started it Sat. morning it took as long to warm up to op. temp as when it is not plugged in. Is there a fuse for the heater or any way I can tell if the heater is working?

[SuperCrutyPS]

I checked mine about two months ago. I found where it goes into the block, I plugged it in and waited about 10 mins. I crawled under and felt the heater assembly. It was getting warm.

Since it runs off of AC instead of DC, it may not have a fuse - Don't hold me to that, it's just a guess.

[matt_05stroker]

I know when I plug mine in the porch lights dim just a little bit. ( enough to know its working, I have to look close).

[Diesel_Diagnostician]

Check continuity.

[bigcountrysg]

There is no fuse for the block heater.

The element is like one you would find in a hot water heater that works off electric. You plug it in there is a controled short. The element heats up keeping the engine warmer then the outside air.

Most of the time the cord is what goes bad. But like everything else over time I am sure the element can go bad.

But I would start with the cord first. Usually the cord is damaged the first 6-8 inches from the constant pluggin and unplugging of the cord. Usually you can cut the cord 8 inches from the end. Put a replacement plug on it and the problem is resolved.

[Diesel_Diagnostician]

CHECK CONTINUITY...

YOU SHOULD HAVE CONTINUITY BETWEEN THE TWO PLUGS.

YOU SHOULD HAVE CONTINUITY BETWEEN THE GROUND AND A NICE CLEAN GROUND ON YOUR BLOCK.

FOR THE PRICE OF A NEW CORD YOU COULD HAVE A DVOM.

[New6.0PSOwner]

Thanks, I will check the continuity this weekend.

[fordboyyfm]

just plug it in when the engine is cold and wait an hour or two and feel the upper radiator hose, if its hot its working.

[New6.0PSOwner]

I got a chance to take a look at the block heater this past weekend and what I found was that there are two cables for the heater. The cable that the extension cord plugs into is about 12-16" long and then has a flat connector on the other end, then there is another cable that has flat connector on the front end and then runs back to the heating elemment. The connection between the two cables was unpluged. I pluged the two together and everything seems to be working fine now.

Thanks to everyone for your help.

Dwayne