Tore the plug off my Block Heater Cord

[Rush]

Total newbie here, who just tore the plug off the AC cord for my block heater on my 2007 Vibe -Am trying to figure out whether the cord will have to be replaced, whether the block heater and cord will have to be replaced, whether an electrician could somehow attach a new plug, etc. etc. etc.Any help from you savvy folk would be greatly appreciated!!

[star_deceiver]

Get out the electrical tape and wire strippers...Did the cord break in the middle? Or tear directly off the heater?If it broke in the middle just peel back the wire coatings and splice them back togeter. Each wire will have a diffrent colour. Pull the individual wire from the black casing about 3 inches on both wires (plug end and heater end). Cut the coloured coaring back about an inch, exposing the strands of copper wire. Braid the 2 wires together and twist like a twist-tie. Tape 'em up!

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[Old Tele man]

...accidently drove off with the plug still plugged in?...the safest (but most expensive) way is to replace the whole assembly, block heater and cord....IF, however, only the "plug" was damaged, a qualified electrician can simply replace the plug...but, odds are that's not the case...I'm guessing the whole cord got "stretched" quite abit before something finally broke, which could mean damage to the wires as they go into the heater unit, which is a dangerous situation (don't want an 220VAC electrical fire inside the engine compartment!)....whatever you do, consider this "trick" and permanentaly mount a household "wall socket" assembly into your car and connect (or plug) the block heater cord to it. Then use a double-ended (male plugs at both ends) cord to connect to the house and the socket you've mounted in the car. That way, should this "accident" happen again, you'll simply "pull out" the cord from the female wall socket in the car...and the cord can be used from either end....for instance, block heater cord plugged into UPPER(TOP) socket and the double-ended male cord into LOWER(BOTTOM) socket...this works because ALL household duplex sockets come original with both sockets connected together...so electricity will come IN via the lower socket (and cord from the house) and go up to the upper socket and back to the heater. Besure sure to seal the whole assembly to keep ice & snow (water) out. ...this is a little "trick" taught to me by friends while stationed at Argentia, Newfoundland, Canada, back in 1964-1965!

[star_deceiver]

Like this!

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[star_deceiver]

NO EXPOSED WIRES!!!!! SPARKS, FIRE, BAD!!!!!Tape 'em up individually, no exposed wires!

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[star_deceiver]

But tape them better then this!!! If water gets in there then the wires will rust and you'll be doing it all over again...

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[star_deceiver]

Just don't go yanking on it!

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[star_deceiver]

Or maybe get something like this...http://www.autoparts2020.com/r...44006Keeps the oil warm when you put it on the oil pan, easy startups!!

[Rush]

Man, you guys are amazing!Boy, did I luck into finding this site or what...The cord broke just past the plug, just ahead of where there is about a 2 inch long rectangular hard rubber section, which is followed by the rest of the cord.And yes, I did drive off w it plugged in...:- |Not sure what the significance is of that rectangu;ar section, but I'll ask an electrician friend of mine to take a look at it.Man do I feel stupid...

[TONY TAT2]

At work we got about 60 tractors,so I see that all the time.

[djkeev]

Quote, originally posted by star_deceiver »But tape them better then this!!! If water gets in there then the wires will rust and you'll be doing it all over again...As long as you are doing it, do it right. Solder the wires back together and before joining them slip some heat shrink tubing over the wire so that when you are done just slide the tubing over the repair, heat it and it shrinks onto the wire sealing the repair. Stay away from tape, it is short lived in the real world and will eventually give you a shock!I'd do two smaller pieces over each individual wire and then a larger over both wires making a secure and professional looking repair.DaveDave

[star_deceiver]

Tape can wear out, but if done properly it can last for a long time.And for myself, I don't own a soldering iron, heat gun. And the wife never uses hairdryers so... tape is the way to go for me!But if you've got the equiptment heatshrinks do work very well, and the process for assembly is relativly the same.

[midnighthunder89]

If you do decide to use tape offset the wires so the stripped wires are not next to each other. this way if the tape gets worn through or something it will not short.

[ragingfish]

Quote, originally posted by midnighthunder89 »If you do decide to use tape offset the wires so the stripped wires are not next to each other. this way if the tape gets worn through or something it will not short.Now THAT is a smart tip which I learned the hard way a few years ago...

[rob454]

Buy wire crimps and tape over the wire after you crimp both sides together.. It will last a lot longer, prevent shock, and not short with the other exposed wire. Plus no soldering needed

[Kincaid]

Very good!

[Rush]

Thanks, once again, for all your helpful replies.Now one problem has been solved, but another one has emerged - While my electrician buddy successfully replaced the plug, he did so using a somewhat larger, rounder plug, w the result that now, the protective cap won't cover it.Any ideas on where I might find some sort of elasticized rubber sleeve which I can pull over the plug, to keep it from bouncing against the car / scratching the paint?

[midnighthunder89]

would something like a bike tube work?