What Watt Is My Block Heater?

[zaac]

Ohmmeter says 35 so that works out to about 400w. Everything I've found on the net says they're usually 500-1000w. 2000 Silverado 5.3 Thanks.

[L29er]

i don`t think they differ to much from vehicles but the one from my wifes car claims to draw anywere between 300-1000w.

[zaac]

Thanks Clancy. My block heater seems to be working alright but the truck wouldn`t start this morning(-28C). Pushed it in the shop and let it warm up for an hour and it fired right up. I`m gonna clean the idle air control and if that don`t help I guess I`ll have to phone the tech. Truck idles fine so I don`t think it`ll help. Anything else it could be?

[Alljackedup408]

move to florida

[L29er]

does it crank over good?

[zaac]

If I moved to Florida the a/c would break. Yes, it turns over good. I bought a fuel pressure gauge to check that. No fuel in the vacuum line to the regulator. The fuel pump has 120k kms on it so maybe that's the prob.

[zaac]

Fuel pressure is 55 psi so on to the next thing. Called a friend who owns a shop and he said the computer can cause this. Said to take off the computer and take it in the house to warm it up. If it starts with a warm computer then that`s the problem. Anyone seen this?

[zaac]

Tried starting it with a warm computer and still no go. Checked fuel pressure while still cold and had none. Pushed it in the shop and could hear the fuel pump but no pressure at the fuel rail. Slowly the pressure came up on its own. I checked the filter and when I was done I turned the key on and pressure was back up to normal and the truck started. Almost seems like the fuel line is freezing and blocking the fuel cause right after I hear the fuel pump with the key on if I do it again the pump won't turn on again but there is still no fuel pressure in the rail. Gonna try some fuel antifreeze. How can I plug the fuel return line to check fuel pump and regulator?;

[zaac]

Left the truck at the repair shop overnight and in the morning me and the guy went out to start it. Turn the key on and no fuel pump noise and no start. The guy climbs under the truck and starts banging on the fuel tank and says to try it. Turn the key on and hear the fuel pump now and it starts right up. Learned a new trick. $850 later and I'm back in business. I know older trucks burn more fuel and the engines wear out faster but since a regular guy can still fix them himself I think it would be cheaper to have one of them.

[zaac]

First cold morning since the new fuel pump and it barely started. Didn't have a fuel pressure gauge with me but seemed like the same problem still. Why do I take stuff to a mechanic? I can f**k it up just as good on my own for a lot cheaper. Decided to switch around the fuel pump relay with another one to see what happens and might buy a new reg to try if the relay don't do it. Of course, now it's supposed to warm up so I won't know until it gets cold again and then I'll be stuck with a truck that won't start. This is my first Chevy and I'm beginning to wonder if it was worth it for the extra mileage.

 

Is anybody reading this or am I talking to myself? Not much help around here! I'd help you if I could, really.

[pwall]

I hear it's been real cold out west......are you using gas-line anti-freeze at all ?

[zaac]

Yes, I put in 2 small bottles of gas-line antifreeze and a new fuel filter to see if it would cure my problem. I also wanted to unhook the fuel line at the fuel rail and blow back through to the filter to check for any obstruction but couldn't get the line off. So many special tools needed now. One time when it wouldn't start I removed the fuel filter and there was fuel pumping to it but no pressure at the fuel rail. I was thinking if the regulator was malfunctioning it would pump fuel through the system but not build pressure. That said, when I shut the truck off I would think that the pressure regulator would close to hold pressure in the rail. Next morning when I try to start the reg should be closed and allow pressure to build but instead the truck will fire momentarily using up the fuel in the rail and then not start because pressure is not being built up again. Does this make sense? Wish I understood how it worked better. Thanks for replying!

[zaac]

Turned out to be the relay.

[L29er]

sorry there wan`t much help! sometimes stuff can fall through the cracks... glad you found the problem, relays are not an uncommon problem. Hopefully you still gonna keep the chevy! sucks that the mechnic slammed you on a pump... those things are rediculously expensive. my truck is 11 years old and pumps are still 500 bucks! WTF!

[zaac]

Thanks stumpuller. One good thing is I learned more about the truck. I'll probably end up keeping it for a long time. I like that it still has a shallow box so I can actually reach in and grab something. With the Fords you need to be about 6'2". The new Chev boxes are getting fairly deep too.