Have you ever left the heater cord in...

[junker68]

As I unplugged my block heater on my '83 300d, I wondered how many people have driven away without unplugging it and what kind of damage occurred.

I usually have to plug it in at 10 degrees and below (Putnam County, New York).

I have not done it, but I sure could see it happening to me. I've had other bonehead things happen.

Another day and another board.

Any good stories out there...

FOR GOODNESS SAKES, DO A SEARCH!!!!!

Just kidding.

Winter question? DOH

I have not done it yet, but I'm sure that day will come.

[oilslick]

You know what happened? It came unplugged from the outlet

I had the cord tied to my car very well so about the only thing it could do was come unplugged from the wall.


Kevin

[billrei]

I have not done that but I did manage to wrap the power cord around the auger of my snowblower!! It got wrapped so tight it distorted the side of the sheetmetal opening and popped the auger free from the bearing. I was able to pound the metal back and get it running again but I now know to make sure the cord is put away before plowing...

[bhatt]

I have never used my block heater in the 300SDL.. ever! And for one reason:

I can picture myself backing down the driveway with the cord still plugged in. Wrapping itself around everything valuable/breakable in my garage like some kind of ACME extension cord from the Road Runner cartoon.

Things unplug on me all of the time with the slightest tug on the cord, but this would be the ONE time it would stay firmly plugged in. It wouldn't unplug until it had tipped over every lawnmower, breakable item, garden tool and large heavy fluid-filled container (uncapped jugs of used diesel oil, etc...)

I can imagine myself mopping up the Rotella right now...

It could be -90 degrees out and I still wouldn't plug the darn thing in. Not without a 10-foot banner stuck to my windshield saying "UNPLUG CORD". Not like that would help anyway -- I'd probably still turn around, look through the rear window, and back out of the garage anyway..

On a side note, I always open my garage door BEFORE starting the car. The one time I don't do that, I'll back right through the closed door...

Neal

[83-240D]

while moving buses in the lot so the lot could get plowed monday i was unplugging busses and found a cord that was torn apart. apparently the driver backed up and the plug held but the cord gave out

[billrei]

Originally Posted by bhatt

I have never used my block heater in the 300SDL.. ever! And for one reason:

I can picture myself backing down the driveway with the cord still plugged in. Wrapping itself around everything valuable/breakable in my garage like some kind of ACME extension cord from the Road Runner cartoon.

Things unplug on me all of the time with the slightest tug on the cord, but this would be the ONE time it would stay firmly plugged in. It wouldn't unplug until it had tipped over every lawnmower, breakable item, garden tool and large heavy fluid-filled container (uncapped jugs of used diesel oil, etc...)

I can imagine myself mopping up the Rotella right now...

It could be -90 degrees out and I still wouldn't plug the darn thing in. Not without a 10-foot banner stuck to my windshield saying "UNPLUG CORD". Not like that would help anyway -- I'd probably still turn around, look through the rear window, and back out of the garage anyway..

On a side note, I always open my garage door BEFORE starting the car. The one time I don't do that, I'll back right through the closed door...

Neal

Ummm, maybe someone should hide your car keys...sounds like your ready for the nursing home and electric cart...

When my home town in Minnesota switched to diesel powered school busses about 25 years ago, they prudently installed a bunch of hitching post plug-in stations in the bus parking lot for the cold seasons, but they soon found that the kids would sneak down there and unplug the busses during the night so that they would be hard to start in the morning. As result, they had to build a huge garage (not heated) to make sure the busses were still plugged in when they needed to be.

[Old300D]

I've done it numerous times. I strain-relieved the cord to the fan bracket, and the extension cord comes under the door of my garage. It just pops off with no damage. I'm prepared.

[1983 300TD]

Originally Posted by junker68

As I unplugged my block heater on my '83 300d, I wondered how many people have driven away without unplugging it and what kind of damage occurred.

I usually have to plug it in at 10 degrees and below (Putnam County, New York).

I have not done it, but I sure could see it happening to me. I've had other bonehead things happen.

Another day and another board.

Any good stories out there...

3 winters ago, my wife and I spent the night at my brother's house. Since I parked the car outside, as opposed to in the garage, I went ahead and plugged the car in. I had never plugged the car in before, and because of that, the cord was wrapped up tight in a couple of twistie tie things for efficient storage. As a result, I had to pop the hood to get access to it. Well, the next morning, my brother and I headed off to work together in his cargo van. My wife was going to drive the wagon home. Can you guess what's coming??? Yeah, she remembered to unplug the block heater, but the hood never got properly shut. She only made it about half a mile before the hood flew up and smashed the windshield. Poor girl, she never saw it coming, and it scared her pretty bad. Anyway, she was alright, and after replacing the windshield, hood, hood mounts, and hood hinges (all in all, $1,600+ of work), the car was just fine too. Learned that one the hard way. So to answer your question, no, I have never forgot to unplug the block heater. When we have accidents around here, we get things done properly and really screw things up!
Damon Fite ---1983 300TD Wagon---303,000+miles