 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Car Forum / Ford / Ford Trucks / August 2006Dual alternators & block heater
G'day all; After exhaustively evaluating dozens of proposals and offers, I recently signed a purchase agreement on an '06 F350 (hasn't been picked up, yet). And then, upon reflection, I realized that two of the options I'd wanted weren't listed: dual alternators and the block heater. Somehow I thought that they were included in the camper and trailer towing package if they weren't individually annotated. Consequently I'd like to know if anyone reading here has ever added either of those options as an aftermarket item? Is that even possible (I was told they were factory only)? Any problems? Any other considerations? TIA, Dusty San Jose, Ca.  SignatureIf you want them order them from the factory. > G'day all; > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > Dusty > San Jose, Ca. You did not mention what engine you are getting but installing a block heater is not a big deal. The hardest part is getting acces to the freeze plug it replaces as in some setups it can be a bit difficult. I do question need for dual altenators though. I have been plowing snow for over 20 years and plows use electrically driven hydraulic system that can be really hard on electric system (for harder than RV'ing) and never needed more than one alt. (even with extra warning light and such running. Modern alt with capacities of 120 to 140 amps are pretty much norm these days and that is a good bit of power. I do regommend dual batteries if you do not have them (PS comes with them) as it helps a lot in stabilizing voltage. >If you want them order them from the factory. > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >> Dusty >> San Jose, Ca. ----------------- The SnoMan www.thesnoman.com > You did not mention what engine you are getting but installing a block > heater is not a big deal. The hardest part is getting acces to the [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > regommend dual batteries if you do not have them (PS comes with them) > as it helps a lot in stabilizing voltage. You would have to look at the dual alternator setup and see but usually on most serp belt engines modifying the accessory setup means spending a lot of money plus pulling the engine. If you have already taken delivery you are likely screwed. That's why I never buy new vehicles....dealers can be counted on to F orders up and you get it 95% right. Then every day you own it it gnaws on you. >> You did not mention what engine you are getting but installing a block >> heater is not a big deal. The hardest part is getting acces to the [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >orders up and you get it 95% right. Then every day you own it it gnaws >on you. Last two new truck I got (gas) did not have dual battieries but as part of the sale I got them to include the parts for dual batteries and I installed the "factory" setiup myself. It was not hard to do. I have installed several block heaters over the years too. ----------------- The SnoMan www.thesnoman.com > That's why I never buy new vehicles....dealers can be counted on to F >orders up and you get it 95% right. Then every day you own it it gnaws >on you. Don't accept the vehicle if it's not what you ordered. When I ordered my '02 SuperDuty in May of '01, among my list of must haves was the 4.30 limited slip gears. The truck arrived Mid July with a 3.73 open diff and I refused to take it. The dealer pissed and moaned about it and tried to tell me they'd never sell it since it was a special order. I told 'em either replace the gears or order me a new truck. They ordered a new truck which I finally received in mid September. >Don't accept the vehicle if it's not what you ordered. When I ordered >my '02 SuperDuty in May of '01, among my list of must haves was the [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >order. I told 'em either replace the gears or order me a new truck. >They ordered a new truck which I finally received in mid September. Some minor opiontion are easily upfitted at dealer level. (Block Heater and Dual Alt or dual battery would be quite doable outside the factory, ----------------- The SnoMan www.thesnoman.com Absolutltly agree with you - My dad ordered a 2006 Vue, it came in and he took delivery of it. That night he was showing it to me and I asked him if he had changed his mind about getting the side curtain air bags and he said no, it had them. After looking at the sticker, he started getting very upset because I was right. After not being able to sleep all night, he went to the dealer the next morning thinking he was going to get screwed and have to live with it. The salesman said that my dad didn't order it that way, when my dad swore up and down he did. You know what the salesman did then?? Said "No problem Mr. ____, we want you to be happy with Saturn, so we'll get you exactly what you want." After my dad picked his jaw off the ground and could speak, he said "can I get my old car back so I have something to drive?" and the salesman said "no, just use the one you have until your new one comes in, then we'll change the paperwork for the new VIN - Just don't go over 1500 miles on it" He thought they were going to have to call the ambulance to perform CPR on him....So there is a thing a good dealer every now and then, but thier kind of like the diamond in the rough.... >> That's why I never buy new vehicles....dealers can be counted on to F >>orders up and you get it 95% right. Then every day you own it it gnaws [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > order. I told 'em either replace the gears or order me a new truck. > They ordered a new truck which I finally received in mid September. G'day "SnoMan" & all; > You did not mention what engine you are getting but installing a > block > heater is not a big deal. The hardest part is getting acces to the > freeze plug it replaces as in some setups it can be a bit > difficult. I Right you are, "SnoMan". I should have mentioned that it's the 6L TD. > do question need for dual altenators though. I have been plowing > snow [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > them) > as it helps a lot in stabilizing voltage. Yeah, it's got the dual batts. And, as you'd pointed out, dual alternators aren't "necessary". But I've got a lot more power use in mind than just driving...(:-o)! We do a lot of wa-a-ay off the road driving and construction. Given that, it's always nice to have a little more--as opposed to less--capacity. > On Sun, 16 Jul 2006 05:57:09 GMT, "My Names Nobody" > <nobody@msn.com> > wrote: > >>If you want them order them from the factory. Not bad advice. But harder to do when you're sifting for a good price on a new '06 these days...(:-o)! Oh well, for now it will have to do. We'll see what next week brings... Thanks to all who replied, Dusty San Jose > G'day "SnoMan" & all; > [quoted text clipped - 42 lines] > Dusty > San Jose Dusty & All- I ordered a F-350 SD w/6L TD last January and included the dual alt option as well as the block heater. Can't speak to adding this equipment after factory build, but wanted to share a point re the block heater. I was told when I ordered the truck that *all* 6L TD engines came with the block heater installed in the block. What you are paying for is simply the plug/wire harness to connect to it. Don't know if this is really true. Kind of makes sense though because the retail cost of the block heater is only $35. Can anybody verify this? If true, then you may only need to purchase the plug harness. -Jp >Dusty & All- > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > >-Jp I've got a new '06 F-350 w/6L TD sitting in the driveway with about 160 miles on it. The window sticker said it had a block heater. I just went out and checked because I've also been reading on the Ford-Trucks.com forums about how it does not include the power cord. Mine has the cord installed. The plug is a round dead-ended cord that drops between the right tow hook and fog light. If you do have to purchase and install the cord, let me know and I'll find the link with the details and pictures again. Greg Hi "Jp" & all, ... > I ordered a F-350 SD w/6L TD last January and included the dual > alt option as well as the block heater. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Can anybody verify this? If true, then you may only need to > purchase the plug harness. Now *that* would be interesting. I'll have to check...providin' that I can locate & ID that critter amidst all that plumbing...(:-o)! I just wish that Ford would do like the Japs or Krauts, put the damn thing together in 2 or at most 3-flavors: lean, nice, and everything! Wading through a bewildering plethora of options and their various inter-relations was a royal PITA! You can have "this" with "that", but not "the other"! Too much emphasis on "King Ranch" or "Harley-Davidson", and not enough on 'a complete package'. How about just a truck with the goodies one needs as opposed to the 'image' one thinks they can project with those hinky labels? Here you get a SD with camper and heavy duty suspension options...and they can't seem to figure out that that kind of customer would want those things that would support heavy power consumption or use in varying climates. If not a dual-alternator with the camper package as "standard", then when? Most disappointing this was. But, the fault was MINE! After looking at so many "almost right" versions, they began to blur into familiarity...so when I settled on that final one, I neglected to check if it included dual-alts, block heat, and the adjustable pedals. Damn it! I'd'a thunk that the "Lariat" package would have included such things... Oh well, ya run what ya brung...now I'm just cruisin' around burnin' oil trying to get enough miles on it so that I can haul that trailer outta here...(:-o)! Thanks for all your help, guys... Dusty San Jose, Ca. (for about another 24 hours...maybe less) > -Jp > Hi "Jp" & all, > [quoted text clipped - 47 lines] > Dusty > San Jose, Ca. (for about another 24 hours...maybe less) The block heater is located at the right-rear of the engine above the starter and below the exhaust manifold. There is an orange wire attached. The other end is a black connector on the righthand frame rail just behind the front bumper. The plug harness plugs into this black connector, and I'm betting that harness is all you need... HTH -Jp >>>Can't speak to adding this equipment after factory build, but wanted to >>>share a point re the block heater. I was told when I ordered the truck [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >>>Can anybody verify this? If true, then you may only need to purchase the >>>plug harness. The heater is there from the factory. All you need is the wiring harness. Instructions for installation are here: http://www.forddoctorsdts.com/articles/article-05-20.php Eisboch > >>>Can't speak to adding this equipment after factory build, but wanted to > >>>share a point re the block heater. I was told when I ordered the truck [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Eisboch If you're doing a lot of snowplowing, then the dual alternators are a necessity (at least with the diesel engine anyway) in my experience. With a 2003 F-350 6.0 PSD, plowing snow for 14 hours steady is eating about one alternator a year, and there is nothing wrong with the electrical system if that's your next question. The alternator is simply running at maximum output all the time (the engine controls and lights consume over 60 amps on a normal basis) The dual alternators would have solved this problem, but I've researched this exhaustively, and NO, you absolutely cannot add dual alternators after the truck has been built. The wiring harness is different, and the regulation of the alternators is controlled by the computer. So I suppose, if you want to reprogram the computer and change the entire underhood wiring harness, then you MIGHT be able to do it. YMMV. > ... >> I ordered a F-350 SD w/6L TD last January and included the dual alt [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > I just wish that Ford would do like the Japs or Krauts, put the damn thing > together in 2 or at most 3-flavors: lean, nice, and everything! You mean like XL, XLT & XLT Lariat? Wading through a bewildering plethora of options and > their various inter-relations was a royal PITA! You can have "this" with > "that", but not "the other"! Too much emphasis on "King Ranch" or [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > climates. If not a dual-alternator with the camper package as "standard", > then when? Because the dual-alternator is an almost NEVER required option, that most owners, camping or otherwise will NEVER need. I considered it briefly on my loaded 2005 diesel F-450 XLT lariat crew cab 4X4, and decided it wasn't needed. Just shy of 30,000 mostly towing miles later, I have no regrets. I did order the block heater. Most > disappointing this was. But, the fault was MINE! After looking at so > many "almost right" versions, they began to blur into familiarity...so [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > >> -Jp |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.