Re: Volvo block heater and replacement cable/cord

[scot850]

I have pilled a couple of block heaters as I know they are now no longer available. There may be some still held by a dealer somewhere in North America, but for the most part P80 and P2 are listed as obsolete.

One of the cables for a spare 850 version I pulled was damaged and I planned to repair it but found it is cracked through the insulation in multiple places so is not even good/safe as a test cord for future finds.

Volvo no longer lists replacement cords, so does anyone know where to find them or a suitable replacement that is approx. 6ft long or longer? Interesting the V/S/C 70 have a 90 degree cable exit from one side and the 850 from the opposite.

I think I may have found a site on Ebay that may have reasonably priced cables of suitable length in both Left and Right formats but am reluctant to pull the trigger as although they are visibly similar, I don't know if they actually fit the recess in the heater. Does it matter for a heater block which cable at the plug end is the +ve as long as the ground is the center pin at the block end and the round pin on the plug socket end?

I have looked on line but cannot find any manufacturer listing a cable for Volvos of this vintage.

Thanks,

Neil.

[Rattnalle]

The heater is made by Calix (or Defa, it should say) and should be compatible with the rest of their respective kits.

But if you actually want to heat the engine and do yourself a favour and get a coolant heater instead of the block heater straight away.

[scot850]

I already have a Volvo block heater on all 3 of my Volvos and have thought about the coolant heater. Problem I have found is finding one that works for North America/Volvo/110-120V format.

Thanks for the reply.

I get requests for the heaters from enthusiasts as they are obsolete and folk don't want to play around with cutting heater pipes or the like to install a coolant heater. Did have one on an Audi A4 and it almost caused a major failure as the unit (Audi/VW OE part) had a problem with rusting and falling out. Fortunately I say a pool of coolant under the car before it went. Best part was although the car was only 4 years old Audi had discontinued selling coolant block heaters. Even better was you could not blank the hole! The mechanics at the dealer ended up using the identical VW part.

Neil.

[oragex]

Oil pan heaters sell on Ebay/Amazon

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dodge-engine-o ... nF&vxp=mtr

There are also some cheap chinese ones but not sure they come with a thermal switch. 250W ones get really hot and will surely warm up the oil even in very low temps

[Rattnalle]

Oil pan heaters sell on Ebay/Amazon

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dodge-engine-o ... nF&vxp=mtr

There are also some cheap chinese ones but not sure they come with a thermal switch. 250W ones get really hot and will surely warm up the oil even in very low temps

The original block heaters are 500 W and barely do any good

I checked and the original Volvo heaters for 230V markets at least were made by DEFA. As far as I know any DEFA-kit including cables should fit together with the Volvo-specific units.

[scot850]

i hear what you are saying about the original heaters. One issue I have fund is some have never had the thermal heat transfer paste added between the block and the engine so temperature does not work as well as it should. I have used the original heaters at -40C and below and not had any issues. What I do like about the coolant heaters is the instant warm air as soon as the thermostat opens.

Adding the oil pan heater is fine if you never plan to raise the engine to do the engine mounts by the oil pan then they are fine to fit to the bottom of the oil pan.

I have also thought about looking into adding a battery blanket as it is common for the batteries to freeze here especially on the front of the battery, so adding the heater blanket should help as well as using synthetic engine oil.

What I would have liked was one of the plastic grille covers you used to get in Sweden for P80 cars. These were particularly good for preventing the intercooler freezing in very low temps, even when the engine is warm and you are driving. When it is that cold the car with auto trans will just not move!!

Think I may have found a possible source for the cables. I will update once I get them and try them for fit and function.

Neil.

[wizechatmgr]

Neil,
Happen to have a picture easily available for one of those covers?

Does it cover the whole thing or does it allow minimal airflow?

[scot850]

I don't have a picture but I'll try to find one. They are in the rocking horse poop category being plastic and the age. I have a bother in Sweden who had one for his 98 V70. It basically was a 'nose' that fitted over the outside of the grill and clipped on the inside through the grille slats if I recall correctly. I think I saw a picture in an old accessory brochure from Volvo many years ago.

Neil.

[Rattnalle]

I've never seen one or those proper ones. I do live in the south though.. But you sometimes see cars of different makes from warmer climates with a piece of cardboard across the front in the winter

[erikv11]

Oil pan heaters sell on Ebay/Amazon

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dodge-engine-o ... nF&vxp=mtr

There are also some cheap chinese ones but not sure they come with a thermal switch. 250W ones get really hot and will surely warm up the oil even in very low temps

The original block heaters are 500 W and barely do any good

I checked and the original Volvo heaters for 230V markets at least were made by DEFA. As far as I know any DEFA-kit including cables should fit together with the Volvo-specific units.

I know you like to trash the Volvo block heaters, and maybe it is colder where you live, but just as an FYI for other readers, for the cold and coldest days of the year here in the upper midwest US (about 0 to -15 F) the standard block heater works great. After having it on overnight the car starts easily and is up to operating temp within maybe 5 minutes after starting. That's on my 98 V70. Last year I bought one from Tasca for my 95 but haven't installed it yet.