2003 Toyota Matrix Block Heater

[Daox]

Well, I just got the block heater installed. It wasn't too bad. There was just a hole in the block on the driver's side above the transmission. The heater slides in with some grease over it and clips into the hole. Unfortunately, the hole is very burried and I wasn't able to take any real good pictures. Here are the ones I do have though.

I still have to see what of timer/remote I can find exactly for it though. But, that can wait a little bit at least.


Kit contents.




Heater installed.




Heater wiring. I routed the wire around the batter following the main wire harness to make it look clean. It then goes through the front of the car through the headlight hole along with a few other wires.




The plug. It is held in place roughly by the grill block. You can kind of tuck it up under it while it is not in use.

[diamondlarry]

Nice clean job as usual Daox. That kit and it's location looks nearly identical to my Prius.

[Daox]

It very well might be the same heater.

[MetroMPG]

I'm a little unclear about what type of heater this is.... Is it a frost plug installation? (IE does the element directly warm the coolant?)

Or does the element slide into a "pocket" in the block that's otherwise open to the outside?

[Daox]

Your 2nd assumption is correct. There is simply a bored hole in the aluminum block. The heater slides into the hole with some thermal grease around it. It is secured from sliding out by a little metal clip that hooks onto the block. I assume they went to this style when they went with aluminum blocks. I'm really glad I didn't have to mess around and knock out a freeze plug. Thats what I thought I was going to have to do.

[MetroMPG]

Well! That's clever. It's the first I've heard of this type of engine heater installation.

What's its wattage?

[Daox]

I wish I knew. It came with zero documentation.

[MetroMPG]

Do you have a kill-a-watt meter?

[Daox]

Nope.

[SVOboy]

You should definately pick on up,