Jump to content

Be careful of your block heater

rforten
 Share

Recommended Posts

rforten New Member

rforten

Posted
Posted

Plugged my 2020 GMC 3500 block heater in tonight.  Took about 15 minutes until it self-immolated.  I think there may be an issue with these.

IMG_3117.JPG

  • Sad 1
Pryme Senior Enthusiast

Pryme

Posted
Posted

Holy crap. Post more pics in the light when you can and more info on how it went up. 
 

I was wondering about adding one to my truck. 
 

I’m no longer wondering 

rdonarski Enthusiast

rdonarski

Posted
Posted

I have never used mine on my 2020 2500HD. After seeing this, I probably won't be unless absolutely necessary. Lucky I live in N WI where the weather is always balmy. 😜

sheath Enthusiast

sheath

Posted
Posted

Well that's a big bummer.

I've been using mine without  issue.

One thing that would be nice is a dash warning to say it is plugged in, so driver's don't take off with the cord plugged in.  Actually a shift lock out with warning sirens and lights would be better... lol

I drape the zip-tie that was around the cord on either the door handle, or steering wheel as a reminder.  So far so good.  🎗️

Hoginedgewood Enthusiast

Hoginedgewood

Posted
Posted

Ive always wondered how much good a 1200 watt heater can do to hundreds of pounds of un insulated metal, now i know how much bad it can do. 
im betting that will buff out. LOL

gemarsh Senior Enthusiast

gemarsh

Posted
Posted

2022 GMC Sierra 3500 Denali DRW. Used the block heater on a 9°F night, next morning all kinds of lights and warnings came up on the dic. Had 3 crank no starts. Un-hooked batteries for an hour and it did start, with codes.

 

Limped it to the dealer, Sunday.

 

Call from dealer said complete engine wiring harness needed. GM engineers to come take a look. Will be down for awhile but alternatively, I will have a truck to get back into.

  • 2 weeks later...
gemarsh Senior Enthusiast

gemarsh

Posted
Posted

Got some pictures from service manager. Still waiting on inspection. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picked up a 23 Sierra 2500 AT4 Saturday. Won't be usi g the block heater until gm gets this under control.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

IMG_0455.jpg

IMG_0454.jpg

IMG_0456.jpg

  • Thanks 1
sheath Enthusiast

sheath

Posted
Posted

Would be an interesting conversation to listen in to at the QA meeting where this gets discussed. 

GFCI is a smart choice! 

 

By chance, has anyone with this issue contacted the NHTSA, to start a case?

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Forum Statistics

    250.4k
    Total Topics
    2.7m
    Total Posts

  • Member Statistics

    342,804
    Total Members
    8,960
    Most Online
    LCH14
    Newest Member
    LCH14
    Joined

  • Who's Online   3 Members, 0 Anonymous, 1,593 Guests (See full list)

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • jl6690506
      Wow I'm in a pickle. (Broke down truck) and a story.

      By jl6690506 · Posted

      The 92-95 SCPI spider injectors are notoriously problematic and hard to source new replacements. I’d pull the intake manifold first to inspect cracked lines and brittle plastic legs before dropping $350 on a rebuild. The 1.5 OBD system only offers limited data, no misfire tracking, which is normal for this 1995 model. Enjoy the project!
    • Coastie05
      2019 GMC Sierra 1500 - 8l90

      By Coastie05 · Posted

      Yea a fluid change is in order here. Honestly, your transmission didn’t even get hot. During the summer in stop and go traffic I’ve seen my 8l80 get up to 216 and it was still shifting smoothly. 
    • newdude
      2019 GMC Sierra 1500 - 8l90

      By newdude · Posted

      I'd change the fluid and start there.   198F is nothing for the 8L90.  They typically operate 180-200F stock.  
    • LCH14
      2019 GMC Sierra 1500 - 8l90

      By LCH14 · Posted

      Looking for help!   2019 GMC Sierra 1500 - 5.3l 4x4 8l90 61k miles - truck is in Arizona, was over 110 outside on Monday when this whole situation transpired. Never had any major issues with transmission until this point:   Truck sat outside my construction office for approx 1 hour idling before I realized, ran around the job site wrapping some things up for the day and then left. Went to get food and sat in the drive through for approx 30 minutes idling. As soon as I pull out of the drive through and onto the main road, rear tires lock up and feels like transmission fell out of the truck. Shifted to park, shut the truck off and tried again, same thing happened. Was able to reverse into parking lot (truck slammed into reverse). Let the truck sit turned off for 10 minutes before trying again, but it continued to happen. Towed truck back to my house. Highest the trans temps reached was 198.   Friday, after work I start looking into the situation. Truck sat in my driveway untouched all week. Truck is now driving like normal, transmission doesn’t get over 185 degrees when trying to heat it up. Got up to 60 multiples times with no issues, no issues accelerating, only down shifted hard into first one time at 185 degrees. Does anyone have any insight? Never through a code or a check engine light. Truck has never been used to tow either. No transmission services at this point.
    • Atlas
      Wow I'm in a pickle. (Broke down truck) and a story.

      By Atlas · Posted

      Atlas won.   I know better, but I did it anyway. I took a compressed air line with a chuck and rubber tip and jammed it in the open EGR port. The port was clear as far as I could see, and as far as I could poke with a flexible wire, but that doesn't mean it's not clogged.   Compressed air blew back at me along with a cloud of black. Oops. I didn't have the rubber tip seated in there all the way. Jammed it up in there some more and squeezed the chuck. PSI was set to 120. Poof! It blew back at me again. Third time...pfffffttssssssspffffffsssfffffff, face full of carbon, and then, kind of a thud..and the air stopped spraying back at me. It was now exiting the exhaust with a low shhhhhh sound as it flowed through the pipe. Something broke free. I pressurized the port again, and air flowed.   Made my day.   Long story short on this problem, it's fixed. Something was really blocking the EGR passages down low, and compressed air blew it apart. I don't recommend this as who knows what debris was sent where. But it's allowed me to move forward, mentally, and onto the next problems I need to get this little S-Blazer going down the road properly again.  

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...