Block heater installation estimate?

[upallnight]

Hi!
I secured a block heater for my '94 Cruiser (it was very hard to track down the right one...I believe I *finally* got the right one; the marks on it are:

(on the side w/ the heating element): 110 3E5
(on the side connecting to the A/C plug): LR20976 400W 115V Made In Canada
5A

(The invoice said part #00213-00134, which seems to match up for the 1FZ-FE engine....but I have no way of comparing if the part in the box matches what was on the invoice. Any telltale signs?)

My question is this: I don't think I can do the installation on my own, and I'm wondering how long it should take a competent mechanic to do the install. I want to figure out if the job is worth it.

I'd heard this could be a big job on the FZJ80, but I don't know for sure.

My mechanic is going to take a look the next time I take it in and give me an estimate, but it would be great to know whether the estimate is accurate.

I live in NW Wyoming. The vehicle is generally garaged overnight, but the garage is not insulated. Temps usually dip into the -20s for a few weeks each winter. I've gotten away without the heater for a while, but I'm thinking it can only help keep the vehicle in better shape & reduce emissions -- but the question is at what price.

Thanks so much!

 

[MTJohn]

I did this myself a few weeks ago. Here is a link to the thread I posted on how I did it with some pics and information on the part number.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=107778

Pretty easy actually. Probably took me an hour with limited mechanical skills. There are some other posts on the site from others who did this also.

Feel free to PM me if you need more information on what the heater looks like.

John Gilbert

 

[upallnight]

Hi, John:
Thank you for the fast & informative reply. My search last night didn't turn up your post (I think I searched for "blockheater" as one word).

From your description, it certainly does sound that I have the right part -- and it did take me months to get the right part (including having the wrong one sent to me twice, even though the company had it listed as the right part for a 93-98 'cruiser). I ultimately paid US$21 for it.

Sounds like a pretty easy job that I can do myself. Might have the shop do it, anyway, when the vehicle is next in there.

From my instructions, the proper installation location is (from the driver's point of view) the 1st plug location from the front of the car, on the driver's side. Is that correct?

Thank you!

 

[MTJohn]

Block Heater Location

I think some people have put this where you describe according to the posts I found. Based on what IdahoDoug remembered from the instructions he had when the heater was still available in the US, I put it on the passenger side. It is a really easy location to get to - Take the heat shields off the exhaust manifold and the plug is there as per the picture. I looked at the plugs on the drivers side and these looked a lot harder to get at.

I don't imagine it makes a lot of difference to the operation of the heater, so I was happy to do the one that was easy to get to.

John

 

[upallnight]

I think some people have put this where you describe according to the posts I found. Based on what IdahoDoug remembered from the instructions he had when the heater was still available in the US, I put it on the passenger side. It is a really easy location to get to - Take the heat shields off the exhaust manifold and the plug is there as per the picture. I looked at the plugs on the drivers side and these looked a lot harder to get at.

I don't imagine it makes a lot of difference to the operation of the heater, so I was happy to do the one that was easy to get to.

John

Thanks! Weird...wonder why they'd specify a plug that was harder to get to... Hm....

I appreciate all your help!