how to change a block heater
 

hey guys i have a 93 ford idi 7.3lt and i need to change the block heater on it. i am wondering how i would go about doing this. i know where it is but dont know how to pull it out. i would really like some help in doing so. thank you:argh:

Is it a frost plug type heater?? If so, leave it, and buy a tank style (fits between the heater hose) or an inline style (fits in the lower radiator hose).

yea they are the freeze plug style...

dont mean to sound rude guys but that dont help me none. im wanting to try to keep the truck as stock as possible because i want to get rid of the truck.

I dislike the frost plug style ones cause if you don't get them perfect, they leak and it's a pain to get them sealed after wards.

Crawl underneath and chase the 110v plug-in to it. Chances are, it's going to be right behind a motor mount.

i know where it is. im going to have to pull the starter off to get to it im just wonderin ghow they come out

I believe you use a screwdriver to release the butterfly clamp. Then use pliers to pull it out. Make sure you drain the block first though, otherwise you get a bath in coolant.

there should be a screw or bolt i believe with a 5/16 head on it. Unthread it should be about 1 1/2" long with a butterfly type flange that holds it into the block. then just work it out you may have to take the bolt all the way out and then fish the tab out of the block with a pencil magnet. When installing the new one first clean the frost plug hole make sure there is no corrosion and is clean then put alittle grease around the o-ring so that it will slide in easily not alot of grease just alittle around the o-ring and push it in the hole and make sure the lip around the outside is flush with the block and not crooked and then reroute your cord. Have you tested the block heater and sure that it is bad? To test take a volt ohm meter and ohm the prongs the two flat ones should have continuity. If not then yes the heater is bad. Oh yea and drain the antifreeze first off of course or you will take a antifeeze shower once you have it drained from the radiator then you will also have to drain the block as well there should be a 1/4" pipe plug on the side of the block below the frost plug line having the frost plug hole clean and dry helps insure a non leaking frost plug heater :tu:

And sorry bill dont care for the tank type heaters have taken many off in my time and have replaced with frost plug type heaters. Yes they can be a b!@&#% to get to seal sometimes but if done right they are alot better IMHO. :c: and for me they seem to do a better job of heating the engine like they are supposed to do

thanks blkjack. that helps me. i got to get the new one first before i do anything. and the reason i think the heater is out is because when i first got the truck you could plug it in and in the morning open the hood and feel heat on the block but now i get nothing:rocking:

I thought mine had died, but the cord had just come unplugged from the heater assembly and a wire had popped out inside the other plug end. You might check the cord to ensure it is connected at both ends and clean up the contacts real good.