Problem = short in the cord - somewhere in the first 6-7 inches toward the plug. Spliced in a new plug, soldered connections, covered each of the three splices with heat shrink tubing, replaced the full length sheath, zip tied cord so it wouldn't swing around in the engine bay, plugged it in and immediately heard the sweet sizzle of the heating element.

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2009 E320 Bluetec 117,000
1995 E300D 306,000 Sold
1996 Ford Taurus LX 130,000 Sold
1985 300TD Still 225,000 Sold
2016 Ford Fusion 24,900

Good deal.

Your findings prove how extremely nice it is to know what the proper resistance of an item is supposed to be.

The finding of a .3 ohm connection where it should have been ~36 ohms would sure lead to an almost dead short.

Good job in repair ! Shrink tube or even two layers of it is a very long lived repair.

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1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

I just read 31 ohms on mine. Temp gauge was just shy of 80*c This is on my '83 300CD. Will measure again in a few hours when it cools down.

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http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...73378_30-1.jpg

I'm guessing the reading will be slightly lower when it's cold, maybe 30 ohms. Your reading of 31 ohms corresponds to about 465 W at 120 V.