3rd Gen Block Heater Recall

Engine warm up enough to drive is about 30-45 seconds from what I have read.

Does the block heater warm the transmission also?

 

I used to use one because I had a short commute. In the winter the truck wouldn't warm up by the time I got to the office. With a couple hours on the block heater before I left, I had heat a couple blocks down the road.

 

I live in Victoria B.C. Canada's mildest climate means you never need a block heater and thus they are a $455Cdn dealer installed option.

I spend my winters at Sun Peaks ski resort in the B.C. interior. I bought a Kat's cartridge block heater online for $72 delivered and my mechanic charged me $50Cdn to install it in my 2019 Tacoma. However a -20*C cold snap arrived before the block heater and the truck turned over fine except there was a grinding noise just before it fired. (manual tranny).

As far as a fire hazard from the Toyota block heater, it could have been caused by a faulty install of the fancy thru the bumper extension cord or just moisture in the plug.​

 

My 2017 off-road burnt to a crisp as well....

 

from a block heater?

just installed one on my 2nd gen two days ago....

 

It's under investigation right now, but it was plugged in and started afire. I had the dealer installed block heater, no mods or additions to the truck. Waiting to hear back from Toyota Canada. Thankfully no one was hurt and hopefully this doesn't happen to anyone else!

 

I think you pampered that one a little too hard that it started on fire... yikes. Im your southern neighbor in Minnesota, always wanted to put in a block heater... maybe not anymore.

 

do you have a great tort atty if need be?

 

It's the lawyers for the insurance company that will be pursuing it. They paid me out on my claim, so my involvement in it should be pretty much finished.

 

Believe me, my new one will never, ever, ever be plugged in... LoL!

 

I believe it's a different style of block heater in the 2nd gen. Yours should be a conventional one with the heating element in the cooling jacket. The 3rd gen is an element that actually keeps the block warm. If not fully locked into place, it creates excessive heat externally from the block which is how the fires start.

 

#Canadianproblems

 

Block heaters are required in Canada but never used mine. Near Windsor, Ontario....across from Detroit. Never needed one here. Doesn't get THAT cold.

 

mines a resistor coil plug in the bottom of the block

 

Where is the block heater power in/plug located? I just bought a formally canadian 2016 and did not notice any 110v plug anywhere, but I also wasn't really looking for one.

 

No, but when I lived in colder climates I would put an engine and transmission oil pan heater on, battery blanket, an engine coolent heater, and a trickle charger. I'd use fairly high wattage to heat the oil a little quicker to avoid losses from warming for longer.

Always had easy starts, heat pretty quick and a transmission that shifted smoothly.

 

On my 2nd gen 1GR-FE the block heater is a cartridge that snaps into place in a cast in pocket on the left side of the block. Is that the same concept on the 3rd gens? On mine there was no draining of the coolant or popping out a freeze plug like in olden days.

The problem I understood was in the wiring of the cord and a potential to short. But I bought and installed mine (the part number is PU140-00913-1) after I bought the truck so I never got a notice based on VIN and don't know anything for a fact.

FWIW: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2016-2018-toyota-block-heater-recall.539971/

 

There's been a block heater recall for awhile now.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2016-2018-toyota-block-heater-recall.539971/

 

Okay, so the 2nd gen is the same as the 3rd. The investigator showed me a demo they did for the engineers at Toyota with the heater cartridge not completely snapped in place, and the exposed elemnt got so hot that all the wiring surrounding it caught fire. My dealership never made me aware of any recall for the heater...

 

I hope Toyota is covering the damage to your house.