Block Heater Install

[Apparition]

How much will a block heater run, and how hard is one to install? Any place I can look on how to install one?

Hit -30f today, and lo and behold this morning, it won't start. Damned car.

[240 2NR]

AFAIK they are just an " electric blanket" that you wrap around the lower part of the block. They are pretty popular with diesel's which run so efficiently they can take hours to warm up. Older diesels tended to not start when cold (I know the TDI engines have solved this probelm but they can still take forever to warm up, a coworker has owned both and said he would just leave his old audi running all day when at work, he turns off his jetta).

As for install I think you just need to wrap the block (which sounds easy enough, but if you've been under your car lately, you'll know why it might take some time) with this "blanket" and rig the plug to hang somewhere near the front of your car so you can plug it in with an extension cord. I think what would be more beneficial to you is a battery warmer, same idea for the battery so it doesn't get so cold. Remeber that both of these require close proximity to a power source.

I think this is accurate. If someone has firsthand experience, please chime in.

[Apparition]

yeah, just got it boosted and it started up no problem. So it was the battery. I'll check into that battery warmer. Thanks!