Plug was ok till last night rain and snow on connection.

 

Dang it, boy. You can get a replacement end at Lowe's or the like... just cut the wires and reattach.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_155261-427-5...r|1&facetInfo=

 

This is typical of a worn cord or most commonly, a result of corrosion. The most common place for the block heater cord to corrode is right behind the plug itself or at the metal contact tines. You can trace the cord all the way back along the passenger side frame rail to the heater element that is behind the oil filter to check for cracks or wear in the cord jacketing. This likely originated at the plug end and the snow and rain just exacerbated the issue. You should be good after a new cord is installed.

A corroded plug will arc, which Is the result of resistance and that process melts the plastic. Keep the plug end contacts in good condition and inspect them for oxidization once in a while. If you have a long extension cord (100 feet more) make sure it is a heavy gauge (12 awg or more) because light-duty cords do not handle long runs well.

 

As mentioned block heater cords are notoriously bad for failing just at the plug itself and the more you plug in the worse it is. I plug the block heater plug into a short extension cord under the hood and leave it plugged in forever then run the extension cord out of the grill, a proper extension cord takes the wear better.

 

That I know, but I never had one melt on me befor. Just curious to y.

 

Heater plug installed new a month ago..The plug on my 05 still looks new.

 

So I drove my truck today, had it plugged in for about 5 hours before starting it. My garage temp was probably 25-30 degrees. The warming light on the dash came on and stayed on as if I hadn't plugged it in. The engine warmed up as it should, but would have thought the grid heater wouldn't be needed being that it was plugged in? Then again guessing the heater heats the oil and maybe the grid heater isn't close enough to get heated up too? Anyone want to share any insight on this. My plug looks fine but had me thinking something might have not been right. I do know the plug was getting AC.

 

Grid heater will cycle no matter what if it's 32 or below. Just like auto idle will come up to 1000 rpm if air temp under 32 pluged in or not block heater heats water in block grid heater heats intake air.

 

Thanks for the info.

 

Not necessarily. My 07 if plugged in here in AK, in the garage, will not cycle the grid heater if plugged in. Not bitter cold but definitely colder than 32.
It heats the engine up enough that it blows Luke warm air on startup.

 

Wondering how long it has to be plugged in to get the look warm air out of the vents at startup?

 

I simply plug mine in every night when I get home and on cold morning my water temp reads 110*i have a digital readout on my quadzilla pod. That's warm enough to have decent heat after u fire it up. Still takes me about 5 miles driving befor I get 192* and thermostat opens.