How-To: Replace Heated Washer Unit With The Alphatherm.

dbdave · August 15, 2010

I'm considering ordering one of these to get back one of the greatest options available for driving in the cold white north of WI. Why did GM not just have this company replace the heater with their version rather than have all of us truck to the dealer to get the old one removed and not replaced? Maybe Alphatherm could not supply the quantity that GM wanted? Maybe they are not a union company? The Alphatherm design looks like it will solve any potential problems that were in the design of the oem unit.

dzj · August 17, 2010

Just ordered mine tonight. I plan to change it out myself, and bring the old one to the dealer.

ColoradoSkiCountry · August 17, 2010

You hit the nail on the head, Dave. Alpha Therm is not big enough to handle the recall, and add to that, the recall needed to get out there right away since it was a safety concern, with little to no time to think about alternatives, to prevent possible lawsuits.

I'm considering ordering one of these to get back one of the greatest options available for driving in the cold white north of WI. Why did GM not just have this company replace the heater with their version rather than have all of us truck to the dealer to get the old one removed and not replaced? Maybe Alphatherm could not supply the quantity that GM wanted? Maybe they are not a union company? The Alphatherm design looks like it will solve any potential problems that were in the design of the oem unit.

jabajet · August 17, 2010

I think GM could have easily disabled all effected units and then replaced them later as supply allowed.

topdj · August 17, 2010

took me all of 10 minutes to swap it, drove over to dealers and they processed the claim and I handed the old unit over.

herkdriver007 · August 22, 2010

I wish I thought about removing the fuse before taking it in...oh well.

Just completed mine...took a whole 20 minutes start to finish. My dealer did the recall according to the bulletin, so it was a simple plug-n-play. Just gotta pick up a new fuse tomorrow

jfm1982 · August 23, 2010

I forgot to take my fuse out too. Dealer wanted 25$ for the fuse. I decided to look in my dad's 08 Sierra to see if he had the fuse and he did. So I took the fuse and put it in my truck. I got a feeling that all trucks have the fuse even if they don't have the heated washer system.

herkdriver007 · August 25, 2010

$25?? I went to PepBoys and got a mini 60A fuse for $4.... wtf?? Did I miss something?

AvalancheZ71 · August 25, 2010

$25?? I went to PepBoys and got a mini 60A fuse for $4.... wtf?? Did I miss something?

I think its one of those squarish PAL fuses. It's not the mini fuse.

herkdriver007 · August 25, 2010

yeah, its a square one... J-Fuse I think. but either way it fit and was $4

jfm1982 · August 25, 2010

Everything here is expensive in Ontario. I couldn't find that fuse here were I live

Rayaz_XL · August 26, 2010

Just got the recall done yesterday. Never even got to try it yet since I just got the truck. It must be somewhat helpful in Canada's sub-zero winters. I want to install the aftermarket washer heater, but not until my warranty is up. No chances worth it.

VYACHISLAV · August 26, 2010

I noticed Alphatherm made a new video clip "how to replace the GM unit with the Alphatherm one" on Youtube. If somebody needs, it is here http://www.youtube.com/user/Alphatherm

sshoureas · September 6, 2010

I ordered my Alphatherm unit and it showed up at the house three days later. Using the discount code found within this thread and factoring in buying the 60A fuse at the dealership parts counter ($2.08) since I forget to pull it before the recall I figure I cleared $30 for less than 30 minutes work. Not a bad deal.

losierm · September 20, 2010

Brought in my truck to the local dealer a few weeks back for warranty work. I had problems with door lock and other things. At the time I had already order the Alphatherm unit. When I told the guy not to perform the recall yet he refuse to work on the truck unless I authorized them to perform the recall (not starting to well). Figure what the heck but clearly requested that they follow the TSB to the T as I was intending the install after market replacement. As you can figure thing didn’t get better ; the not so useful mechanic at this dealer proceeded to cut the truck side of the connector as well as remove the bracket.

After visiting the service manager with a color copy of the TSB had tested his reading skills. He wasn’t able to provide a fix for me. They didn’t have any truck side connectors because that stuff goes to the garbage. I would say I was upset but that would be an understatement. I tried my luck calling alphatherm directly to see if they would have any Truck side connector I could buy off of them. (These guys are great) just a few days later all I needed to install my replacement unit was in my mailbox and I now have heated windshield washer again.

The bottom line GM ( ok ok not GM just my local GM dealer ) suck

AplhaTherm is great. http://www.alphathermusa.com/