Heater Grid: disconnecting it, (benefits?)

[GSP7]

99 CTD 4x4

 

Tell me about advantages of disconnecting the heater grid. Im in Calif, but will be moving back to Idaho or Washington state

 

I disconnected the Heater grid wire eyelet right at the drivers side battery positive terminal. ( is that the proper place to disconnect?) Ran my truck to see if it would throw the checkengine light (nope}

 

So tell me the advantages or extra safeguard I benefit by disconnecting the heater grid.

 

I thought I heard disconnecting it helped protect the ECM or something like that ? ? ?

 

Or what issues does the heater grid operating cause, if any ? I obviously draws amps/power

 

 

Edited November 30, 2017 by GSP7

[Dieselfuture]

I believe longer battery life along with less stress on the alternator which if loaded puts out excess ac noise that leads to electronics failure such as ECM, psg an so on. On proper way to disconnect can't remember @Mopar1973Man is the man on that. I use his mod for 143f resistor on iat which is ran thru a relay on toggle switch and it's always fooled in warmer months and only use it to start the truck in colder mounts and switch it back to 143f to keep greeds off. 

[GSP7]

While waiting for Mike's response

 

Will disconnecting the heater grid effect the "wait to start" light? 

 

I thought it might not even light up after disconnecting, but it still lights up on on the dash on my truck....???

 

 

.

[Me78569]

the wts light is the sign the ecm is triggering the relay.  It doesn't know if the grids are connected.  

 

[Mopar1973Man]

In a nutshell the fooler will stop the pre start grid heaters but does not stop the post grid heaters. Disconnecting is the best bet. I disconnect at April and hook up again in October.

[Bobalos]

during some recent testing, I unplugged the relays @ the coil wires to the relays & it threw a code.  I did not disconnect the big hoses to the relays @ the battery, but might consider it, given how hard it beats up on the batteries & Alternator.  Im in San Diego, so......... not like it is going to get cold.  LOL.  

[IBMobile]

1 hour ago, Bobalos said:

Im in San Diego, so......... not like it is going to get cold.  LOL.  

Does too.   It's going to down to 57 tonight. 

[Mopar1973Man]

These trucks will start down to 32*F in the morning without grid heaters. Heck my summer time morning temps are in the 50s.

[Bobalos]

10 minutes ago, IBMobile said:

Does too.   It's going to down to 57 tonight. 

 

The rest of the folks on the board are crying (or laughing) about our "lows"..........  

 

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, 

 

 

 

Edited November 30, 2017 by Bobalos

[Mopar1973Man]

4 minutes ago, Bobalos said:

 

The rest of the folks on the board are crying (or laughing) about our "lows"..........  

 

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, 

 

 

 

Last winter I was seeing MINUS 35*F. Now we are talking grid heater weather at least two cycles.

[GSP7]

So the Best way to disconnect is remove the ring terminal and wire at the drivers side battery ?

[dripley]

Yes. As you discovered it will not throw any codes. I am going on my 3rd winter without them.

Edited November 30, 2017 by dripley

[GSP7]

So is the purpose of disconnecting the grid heater to stop the excessive unnecessary amp draw on batteries / alternator etc...... and give the ECM a safe space and inner peace and sheeit and stuff,, lol .

 

 

Edited December 1, 2017 by GSP7

[Me78569]

Yea pretty much

[jlbayes]

16 hours ago, Mopar1973Man said:

These trucks will start down to 32*F in the morning without grid heaters. Heck my summer time morning temps are in the 50s.

 

They'll go lower than that but get a bit grumpy. Even with a single battery.

[dripley]

Mine will start fine at 20 without them but talks back to me for doing it.

[Mopar1973Man]

1 minute ago, dripley said:

Mine will start fine at 20 without them but talks back to me for doing it.

 

Same here. Rough idle for a few moments and heavy knocking then once there is a bit cylinder temperature it smooths right out. 

[jlbayes]

The 12v barks and dies a few times. White smoke yada yada yada. 

[JAG1]

I like to plug in the block heater and not use the grid heaters, but I hate it when I leave it plugged in and drive off.

 

BTW, don't ever run the extension cord from the rear of the truck and over the antenae, thinking your so smart, but forget and drive off....... It turns it into a windshield breakin' whip and bends the body. Then windshield company screws up and have to do it done twice.

 

I thought I was so smart since I would see the cord over the antenea from the drivers seat.

 

 

Edited December 2, 2017 by JAG1

[Mopar1973Man]

I hate wasting power on 750 watt heater attempting to heat the outside. 30 second of battery power get to started. Then get rolling quickly and reduce you idle time. Sooner you get over 20 MPH the sooner grid heater are disabled.