EBH for Highlander Hybrid - info needed! Help!

Tracy · #1 09-13-2007, 01:37 PM

I'd appreciate some help from the group - particularly Evan, if he's on...
I want to install a block heater in my 06 Highlander Hybrid, and talked to the dealer about this and even showed them Evan's instructions (hoping they'd get it right). They are willing to do it, but tell me that they stopped doing EBH installs on older cars years ago because they tended to leak after 2-4 years (sometimes with a sudden coolant loss). They admit that coolant has more anti-corrosive agents in it nowadays, and will do the install if I wish. They say that worst-case scenario (the sudden coolant loss notwithstanding) is that I might have to have an EBH reinstalled if it leaks in a few years.

Any thoughts about this? I'm willing to pay the $$ and really want to have the EBH done - but it truly is NOT as simple as doing it in the Prius (where no holes in the casing have to be made) and I'd like to know the real risk of future leaks (if anyone can assess this).

OK, group - help!
Thanks in advance - Tracy

xcel · #2 09-13-2007, 08:45 PM

Hi Tracy:

___Wayne Mitchell (Fire Engineer) would know for sure but IIRC, the EBH’s in the Prius’ sit in a well and do not actually come in contact with the coolant so there is no chance of a leak ever. I do not know about the HiHy but if you can pick up the EBH for it, any of us can install it in less then an hour?

___Good Luck

___Wayne

hobbit · #3 09-13-2007, 09:09 PM

Erm ... someone should check for sure if the heater spot
in the hihy involves breaching the coolant channel. Many
block-heaters for other older cars went into a freeze plug
and thus had to seal against coolant and be subject to
corrosion. The very-proximal separate hole in the casting
like the Prius has is of course the right way to do it,
and I'd be surprised if the Hihy's block didn't have a
similar arrangement.
.
_H*

efusco · #4 09-13-2007, 10:35 PM

The Hihy is a direct coolant heater and requires removal of a plate after draining the coolant...the heater is put on and coolant replaced. It's no where near as simple as the prius 'core' EBH. The OP has my original article on this and is aware of what's involved.
see my Instructions:
http://www.hybridchat.com/forums/toy...tructions.html

xcel · #5 09-13-2007, 10:39 PM

Hi Evan:

___I have not looked at your instructions but the HiHy is just like the Honda’s. A Coolant drain or some loss while screwing in the new EBH is mandatory then

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Tracy · #6 09-14-2007, 09:07 AM

Yep, the HiHy requires drilling into the space where the coolant is, and that is why I posted the question for all you folks out there with more mechanical expertise than I have! My hubby has a Prius and already had his EBH installed through the group - but no one (except Evan) seems to have much experience with the Highlander.

Any other thoughts? Would you go for it anyways?
Thanks for the advic!

ericbecky · #7 09-14-2007, 03:20 PM

I would just do it , if it were me.
I'm not sure how long you plan to keep the HiHy, but the EBH should last for a long time.
I wouldn't think they would produce an item that would be prone to failure.

Tracy · #8 09-14-2007, 03:31 PM

Hi Eric -
Thanks for the reply. I think the EBH itself will be fine - they are cautioning me about the seal between it and the coolant housing that has to be drilled into. The seal will undoubtedly fail over time, as all seals do, but it seems to me that it is something that could be checked (like at each oil change). And I'd hope that it lasts longer than 2-4 years. But this is new territory...maybe I'll have to be the one to explore it!
Tracy

Tracy · #9 10-11-2007, 01:23 PM

So I did it! Got that EBH installed - and had to take the HiHy back to the dealer the next day because it was leaking coolant on my driveway and everywhere else I parked. But the dealer "tightened things up" and it has been fine since. Now I just have to get another outlet/timer on the outside of the house because my hubby is using the one we have for his Prius' EBH!!

Once I get it up and running - and now that the temps are dropping in Wisconsin - I'll get to see how it does (and will keep y'all posted).

efusco · #10 10-12-2007, 08:36 AM

Good for you getting it done!! What did they charge you for it?
I had lost track of the thread and saw where you mentioned a couple times about 'drilling into the coolant housing'...there isn't any drilling involved at all...the hole for the heater already exists, it's simply blocked by a thin metal plate held in place by 2 torx bolts...you simply remove the plate and torx bolts and put on the heater which has a rubber O-ring and some sealant/lube to prevent leaks...if secured properly there should be no risk of leaks. Mine's been on almost 2 years and we haven't seen a single drop of coolant on the floor of the garage.