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Can I install a car heater

Tiny
DAND1T1
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 PONTIAC G5
  • 127,000 MILES
I was wondering if it was possible to install a small car heater that I can leave running overnight that runs off an extension cord like a block heater?

At the moment I have a small boot heater in my car running off of an extension cord slammed in my car door. I assume it is bad for the door and hate having to do it, but I like having my car warm in the morning. I was wondering if there was something I could install that would heat my car (like a twelve volt heater, but slightly more powerful) and then get a mechanic to wire to a safer location (like under the hood) that I could plug into my house.
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Tuesday, January 17th, 2017 AT 8:01 AM

6 Replies

Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
You cannot use anything twelve volts because after operating a heater all night, your battery would be drained in the morning.

The whole idea is just rather dangerous, especially having a live extension cord slammed in the door.

The best possible answer for you would be to install a remote start system so you can simply warm up the car before you get there in the morning.
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Tuesday, January 17th, 2017 AT 8:57 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
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You could simply install a tank style inline heater. Those pump the coolant through the heater core and will warm up the interior. The plug would stick out of the grill and you just plug them in. Looks like this.
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Tuesday, January 17th, 2017 AT 9:23 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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Unless the car is left running with the blower operating, this is not going to heat the inside of the car, just the engine.
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Tuesday, January 17th, 2017 AT 9:28 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,576 POSTS
I have run them in a bunch of vehicles. They circulate water through the core and will warm the interior. You just need to leave the temp control on high and the vents open when you shut the car off. Never had an issue in my Blazer, the trucks I drove or any other vehicle where the core was inside the cabin. As the air heats up it also circulates.
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Tuesday, January 17th, 2017 AT 9:33 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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I have to disagree. Warming a heater core that is buried in the dash with no air circulation at all is not going to do anything for the inside if the car in frigid weather.

Simply remote starting the car is the only logical solution.
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Tuesday, January 17th, 2017 AT 9:38 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,576 POSTS
As I stated, never had a problem with that in any of the vehicles I installed them in, and they were parked outside year around and in below zero weather. Had them in the box trucks I ran and my wreckers and personal vehicles as well as the response rig I ran for EMS. As long as I remembered to plug them in the cabs were nice and warm and the glass clear of frost/snow.

Remote start is an option, but it is not the only option.
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Tuesday, January 17th, 2017 AT 3:28 PM

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