I have a 01 XJR that is parked outside for the winter. I know this is a stupid question but I have the pigtail for the block heater in my trunk but I have no clue where to plug it in under the hood. We are looking at a few cold days coming up and I would like to use the heater.

 

At least you have the pigtail. They often get lost over the years. Took me a loooong hunt
to get one after some previous custodian neatly snipped it at the flatpack. Haven't used it
since.

The block heater is installed in the lower left side of the block towards the rear.

The Jaguar specific foil shielded cabling is fed over the steering rack and along the engine
to emerge near the lower grille opening on the left side just under the bumper shock
assembly area. This is all supposed to be done as part of pre-delivery inspection ... over a decade ago

Right side as you face the car. It should be tied up in there somewhere. Look for the
matching flatpack connector. The cord itself is a flat ribbon, not round. If that helps.

You'll have enough to pull it out about a foot to connect the two halves. Use some
of that silicone brake lube on the shells to get them to connect. They are tight. Then,
smear some outside.

 

Then how is the block heater activated?

 

???????????? By plugging it in a 110/220V outlet

 

If the car is an 01 and the block heater has never been used, why do you need it now?

I used the one on my '03 I think maybe once or twice, never bothered with it again.

 

If it's a resistive element meant for 110v, I doubt that plugging it in to a 220v outlet is a very good idea.

 

+1

It's 120 only in North American markets.

 

Thanks Plums, informative as always. I will find a nice warm underground garage tonight and check it out. Hopefully with all of the Krown rust proofing dripping off the car the flatpack connector will plug in like nothing.

 

First off I bought the car in 2012 and I have been avoiding driving it on the really cold days. I like to have a block heater so I am not idling my car as long. I am a big fan of letting all the oils warm up and lubricate before I head out. Unfortunately with idling as long as I do, I am averaging around 19.5L/100 when I am usually around the 17 mark with my normal habits.

 

I run a 12 gauge extension cord off the a 110 outlet to the car. Usually on the house side of the cord I run a remote control switch so I can turn on the heater 30 - 60 min before I unplug and start up the car.

 

Irrespective of ambient temps, letting a car warm up by idling is unnecessary and ineffective. You may be starting off with a slightly warmed engine but everything else, especially the transmission is still bone cold.

 

I agree, BUT, the seat heaters have had time to work, and the heater is blowing warm and the windows are not all misted up.


The safety factor of clear windows has got to be worth a few litres of petrol ???

 

True- but I'm just stressing the point of letting the engine warm up is not of any benefit- to the engine.

It's one of those old myths that won't go away.

 

Indeed, prolonged idling, especially when cold, could actually increase damage as you are spending more time with the engine in a cold state, with viscous oil and rich fueling.

My approach has always been to warm up the car by driving it gently. As oil temp lags coolant temp, I try to avoid full throttle until a few minutes after the coolant temp gauge hits normal. (Had an Audi with cold oil warning light once. Handy as a reminder to take it easy).

Of course, being able to see out of the windows is a necessity.

 

110/220 because some countries are 110 and some 220.
I did not explain it better because it seemed to me to be self evident.
Obviously I was wrong

 

No, it was self evident.

 

Warm is good.

- less battery current is required to turn over the engine which
is especially helpful if the battery is a bit weak for whatever
reason. this sentiment is shared by all those woeful looking
people standing around waiting for the auto club to show
up with a booster pack

- by using less current, the battery is not as deeply discharged
and thus recovers faster as well as lasting longer

- the lubrication system reaches operating temperature faster thus
spending less time in the non-optimal range

- the heating system is effective much faster. many cars using block heaters
can be observed having bare spots on the hood and near the cabin air intake
grill after it has snowed overnight. that pretty much shows that there is some
useful quantity of heat being given off. starting off without some heating capacity
can lead to frosted windshields that cannot be demisted quickly because the system
is not yet available. this can lead to a "distracted driving" ticket.

- the engine enters closed loop operation sooner

- it's more comfy

So, warm is good.

And it can be achieved most economically by a block heater.

Parking in a nice warm parking garage works even better.

Avid hypermilers even run their block heaters for an hour or so before starting
off in the middle of summer. Their concensus is that the cost of electricity to
do this is more than offset by their fuel savings gained by entering closed loop
operation earlier. And this is in the summer.

Comfy is good too.


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