Best 'I'm still plugged in" warning device - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

kerry · #1 01-31-2008, 09:59 AM

I'm always paranoid that some cold morning I'm going to drive away with my block heater still plugged in. What are people doing to remind themselves not to do this? Sometimes I hook the cord around the Mercedes star but often I'm parked in a place where I don't have enough cord to do this. Anybody have a foolproof solution?

JimmyL · #2 01-31-2008, 10:06 AM

Maybe wrap extension cord around drivers rear view mirror?
What do I know, I'm in Texas.....

LUVMBDiesels · #3 01-31-2008, 10:07 AM

A red scarf around the hood ornament? A placard on the steering wheel?

I have a bright orange extension cord and I have not missed removing it yet...

TX76513 · #4 01-31-2008, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyL

What do I know, I'm in Texas.....

Yeah interesting problem. Had someone notice my cord hanging down and asked if the car was electric.

pizzachef · #5 01-31-2008, 10:19 AM

Done it a few times. Both backing up and going forward. You hear a "clunk" and wonder "what the **** was that". Sometimes it occurs to me right away and sometimes I don't know until I get back home and the cord is still laying there in the driveway

My block heater cord is zip tied pretty well to the front towing hook thing, so its fine. I may ruin the extension cord one day though.

I've thought about putting a little 110v light in the dash and splicing it into the block heater wire. Haven't gotten much farther than that thought though...

Parrot of Doom · #6 01-31-2008, 10:22 AM

CB aerial, cloth around the bottom, red flag in place of the aerial, left on the bonnet?

junqueyardjim · #7 01-31-2008, 10:39 AM

Put it in your memory like you do with a lot of little things. Do you need a reminder to put diesel fuel in the tank? Just put it in your head there are a few things that just should be remembered, like Birthdays and Anniversaries and Oh yes, the plugged in Benz. It's cold, don't you then think, will it start? That should jog your brain enough to pull the plug out, unless your brain dead.

Jeremy5848 · #8 01-31-2008, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parrot of Doom

CB aerial, cloth around the bottom, red flag in place of the aerial, left on the bonnet?

Take Parrot's CB mag-mount antenna base off of the hood, reattach the antenna, tie the extension cord to the antenna somehow (cable tie?), stand the antenna where the top can be see from inside the car (ground, bumper, hood?), attach Parrot's red flag to the antenna so it can be seen from inside.

When you remove the extension cord, the antenna and flag goes with it. Returning home to a foot of new snow, the flag sticks up so you can find the extension cord.

Jeremy

notfarnow · #9 01-31-2008, 10:57 AM

Easy!

You need *a wife*

A properly adjusted one rarely misses an opportunity to point out something stupid that you've done, you're doing, or you're about to do.

I'd be lost without mine... literally.

SD Blue · #10 01-31-2008, 10:59 AM

Attach, by strong cord or rope, a wheel chock to the end of your extension cord. They carry the lightweight, plastic type in most auto parts stores now.

(Years ago, we used this method on ground equipment for aircraft, in the military, to prevent folks from hitching up to it and driving off while it was still plugged in to the plane. $xp$ns$v$ repair!)

thesst · #11 01-31-2008, 11:01 AM

You need the UMR-1855BH block heater warning device. First you need to invent it, though...

Matt L · #12 01-31-2008, 11:36 AM

Route the cord to the interior of the car and run it through the driver's door.

OldPokey · #13 01-31-2008, 11:51 AM

Easy. Install a 120V light bulb fixture in the car and wire it in parallel with the heater. When you plug it in, the light goes on - make it 100 watts and you'll never miss it!

spark3542 · #14 01-31-2008, 11:54 AM

Early in the "block heater" season, I just leave my hood up each night for about a week, until I get in the groove of remembering that it's plugged in. After that I'm good for the rest of the season.

vstech · #15 01-31-2008, 12:04 PM

oh quit being a baby about it.
just purchase a replacement block heater cord every time you break it.
as a good warning device, you could get a quote from MB for the block heater, and put the quote on your steering wheel... $$$$ usually keeps your memory pretty sharp.