Block Heater

[613GT500]

Now, where is the best place to run the block heater cord to the outside? Thanx for yours help.

I run the extension cord under the garage door

 

[peterk9]

I run the extension cord under the garage door

I could be wrong but I took it to mean to run the OEM heater cord to the outside of the grille or vehicle.

Peter

 

[613GT500]

I could be wrong but I took it to mean to run the OEM heater cord to the outside of the grille or vehicle.

Peter

Oh, I leave there plug inside the engine bay and let the extension cord run down the drivers side headlight "gap", for a lack of a better description.

 

[peterk9]

Honestly, I've never checked it out myself. I've never used the block heater in any of the vehicles I've had in the last 20 or so years.

Peter

 

[613GT500]

Honestly, I've never checked it out myself. I've never used the block heater in any of the vehicles I've had in the last 20 or so years.

Peter

Unfortunately, the wife didn't agree to buy a house with a 4 vehicle garage, but said I could sell one of my summer vehicles (or both) to make room for the EX

Good thing the EX Sport comes with autostart, as you know how cold it gets here in Ottawa .

 

[JAPeterson]

Block heaters are nice but they lighten the pocket book some when you get your power bill when using it.

If you believe that you really need to run one get a heavy duty 15 amp timer and have it come on a couple of hours before you need the vehicle. You'll still feel it in the pocket book but not like if the heater was on for 8-12 hours overnight.

As for where to run the cord it is up to you to find the best place for your situation. I put in a battery maintainer on my Explorer and had to run a cord all the way to the passenger side from the battery to connect it to the maintainer when I have it parked in the garage. Above all you need to put the cord somewhere you will remember that it is plugged in when you start it up and leave or you might be dragging a cord around with you for a while.

 

[Gizwick]

Trying to locate the block heater cord I have not had to plug the block heater in yet so imagine it is coiled up and tied to something under the hood. Bought new in Canada so black heater is a must Do workers on the assembly line get a bonus if they can "hide" the cord? Just saying Have looked in the hood several times but it must me tucked in somewhere

 

[JAPeterson]

Do you even know if you have a block heater installed?

 

[peterk9]

Welcome to the Forum.
Here is a picture of the one in my 2017. I also couldn't find it at first. Took my Explorer in for an oil change and when I got home I wanted to check the oil and there was the block heater cord. I guess when they did the 9999 point check they must have not put everything back in place and I found the cord wrapped around another cable. I now have it tucked around another wiring cable that runs above the fans. Maybe try removing that large appearance cover and see if you can locate it. As for the block heater, I can't recall the last time I ever used one but I think it was probably more than 30 years ago. Good luck.

Peter

 

[peterk9]

Do you even know if you have a block heater installed?

All those for the Canadian Market and some designated States are supposed to have one.

Peter

 

[RhinoQuartz]

All those for the Canadian Market and some designated States are supposed to have one.

Peter

Do you know where I could find a list of those states please?

Also what the minimum trim to receive a block heater?

 

[peterk9]

Do you know where I could find a list of those states please?

Also what the minimum trim to receive a block heater?

Good question! I can't recall where I saw that info but I believe it mentioned there were 7 states but didn't name them. I would expect that all Explorers destined for Canada would have a block heater, but that's only a guess. My 2011 Ex, 2014 MKT and 2017 Ex, had/have them.

Peter

 

[RhinoQuartz]

Good question! I can't recall where I saw that info but I believe it mentioned there were 7 states but didn't name them. I would expect that all Explorers destined for Canada would have a block heater, but that's only a guess. My 2011 Ex, 2014 MKT and 2017 Ex, had/have them.

Peter

I think I remember seeing it on a thread on this forum but I can't remember where. I want to say Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin were on there and I would think New York, Montano, and Colorado would be the other 3, considering all of them are known for cold weather.

 

[RhinoQuartz]

Update: my 17 Base was first sold in Michigan, so I assumed it would have a block heater as well. I took a look and was unable to locate one.

I will keep searching and have asked the selling dealer for the original window sticker (they can also be purchased at Ford 2007 - 2019 Ford, Lincoln or Mercury Window Sticker for $25), but so far it seems that there is a minimum trim level - my assumption would be XLT - required before a block heater was added as standard in specific cold weather states.

 

[peterk9]

The block heater was not listed on my Window Sticker.

Peter

 

[Odrapnew]

The block heater was not listed on my Window Sticker.

Peter

Odd, my 14 has it listed under Optional Equipment - No charge(In MN)

 

[RhinoQuartz]

The block heater was not listed on my Window Sticker.

Peter

Odd, my 14 has it listed under Optional Equipment - No charge(In MN)

The plot thickens.

Are there other users here who can chime in with their window stickers (and original purchase state/province) and presence/absence of block heaters?

 

[peterk9]

If it is a Standard piece of equipment it usually isn't listed on the Window Sticker. On Odrapnew's Sticker it is shown as "Optional Equipment". I noticed for the 2020 it shows a block heater is Optional on all trims. Will be curious to see if it is still Standard here.

Peter

 

[RhinoQuartz]

If it is a Standard piece of equipment it usually isn't listed on the Window Sticker. On Odrapnew's Sticker it is shown as "Optional Equipment". I noticed for the 2020 it shows a block heater is Optional on all trims. Will be curious to see if it is still Standard here.

Peter

Ah, so standard in Canada and optional in the US then. Makes sense.

 

[Odrapnew]

I guess that could be the case.
In 14, the block heater was a "standard option" for some northern states and optional in others.

I believe it is standard for all in Canada, which may not show on window sticker as Peter mentions. But, there are a lot of standard features listed on the window sticker.