Is a block heater an option? I recently bought an Audi Assured 2001 A4
Quattro Sport 5spd 1.8T and I can't find the freaking block heater cord! Is
there some clever place that it's hidden in the engine bay? I have trouble
fathoming how any car for sale in Canada could be sold without a block
heater. It borders on criminal!

Seriously, though - anyone?

 

On Tue, 27 Jan 2004 03:16:30 GMT, "rob" <not@chan.ce> wrote:

>Is a block heater an option? I recently bought an Audi Assured 2001 A4
>Quattro Sport 5spd 1.8T and I can't find the freaking block heater cord! Is
>there some clever place that it's hidden in the engine bay? I have trouble
>fathoming how any car for sale in Canada could be sold without a block
>heater. It borders on criminal!
>
>Seriously, though - anyone?
>

Depends on the dealer, where you live etc.

In Ottawa where it has been known to get chilly, the majority of the
cars don't appear to have block heaters nor do any of the public
parking lots have plug-ins. In the prairies to not have a heater as a
dealer installed option and no plug-ins is bad. Both are pretty much
standard; if not, count on bad times at -35C.

I lived on the prairies and found that garaging a vehicle is equal to
a block heater. If you don't have a garage, get a heater. I am
guessing that where you are there are no plug-ins in public parking
lots. And if you do put in a heater, your car will love you and it
will be much quicker to get to running temp etc.

 

rob wrote:

> Is a block heater an option? I recently bought an Audi Assured 2001 A4
> Quattro Sport 5spd 1.8T and I can't find the freaking block heater cord! Is
> there some clever place that it's hidden in the engine bay? I have trouble
> fathoming how any car for sale in Canada could be sold without a block
> heater. It borders on criminal!
>
> Seriously, though - anyone?

Here in Sweden (but yes I am a Canadian A4 owner, as you asked for the
heater is not in the Audi catalogue but is installed as a dealer option upon
delivery. The extra cost here was approx CAD 350 which is of course ridiculous,
but it's nothing compared with the cost of wear and tear on the engine if you
don't have one.

If you DIY (incl. all the mess with the block plug, coolant, cutting suitable
hole in lower front grille for the connector etc) then you'll get away much
cheaper, say half the cost. But if you have the funds, get the dealer or a
well-reputed workshop to do it. Should be standard fare for them.

/Robert