Unknown electrical thing

[peter Mongolia]

Hi all,
on the front next to the bullbar (passenger side) I have this 3-pin connector.

On the inside (passenger side) I have this plug box.
Does anyone know more about this?

Thanks in advance
Peter from Tsonjingboldog/Mongolia

 

[Old.Tony]

I wonder if the previous owner had a winch installed?

 

[peter Mongolia]

Hi Tony,

I don't think so, also because there is that plug box on the inside.
Also, the previous owner doesn't know.

grtz
Peter

 

[Old.Tony]

The plug inside may have been where the winch switch was plugged into, and the installed cable just used as an extension.

Otherwise, I've no clue.

 

[peter Mongolia]

Anyway Tony,

it doesn't get in the way.
Maybe I'll figure it out later and let you know.

thanks
Peter

 

[Phunk]

edit: didn't realise it just goes to the inside of the car.

 

[peter Mongolia]

Thank you all for your responses,
When the weather is better here, I'll get to work.
If I have results, I'll be sure to let you know.

 

[peter Mongolia]

In the meantime I have found out that this is a connection for an engine preheater at temperatures of more than -20 degrees Celsius.
But it doesn't work anymore.

 

[Phunk]

In the meantime I have found out that this is a connection for an engine preheater at temperatures of more than -20 degrees Celsius.
But it doesn't work anymore.

engine pre-heater?? whaaaa?

 

[tweak'e]

engine pre-heater?? whaaaa?

electric engine heaters are pretty common in cold countries to stop oil going solid while its in the garage.

 

[peter Mongolia]

Indeed tweak'e, last winter we had -43° Celsius here. The Navara then stood still for almost three months. They then made a (controlled) fire under the engine until the oil and diesel was liquid again.

 

[Phunk]

electric engine heaters are pretty common in cold countries to stop oil going solid while its in the garage.

I'm more confused on how it works, as in is there an element in the sump?

Edit - it warms the radiator coolant, so it must then electro pump it?

if it just warms the coolant then not sure how it keeps the oil from solidifying

 

[peter Mongolia]

Hi Phunk,
my heater works electrically, on 220 Volt.
There is a heating element and a kind of fan under the car.
This blows the warm air through a pipe to under the crankcase.
This heats the oil and makes it more liquid, which of course ensures a better start.
I don't think there is a radiator coolant heater, since anti-freeze is added to the cooling water.
Maybe there is a diesel heater, but I don't know.
Grtz
Peter

 

[Phunk]

Hi Phunk,
my heater works electrically, on 220 Volt.
There is a heating element and a kind of fan under the car.
This blows the warm air through a pipe to under the crankcase.
This heats the oil and makes it more liquid, which of course ensures a better start.
I don't think there is a radiator coolant heater, since anti-freeze is added to the cooling water.
Maybe there is a diesel heater, but I don't know.
Grtz
Peter

Legend, thanks heaps mate.

Yeah here in Aus, 99% of the country won't necessarily ever need something like that here, but I've been overseas and experienced -20, so definitely understand why it would exist!

 

[tweak'e]

I'm more confused on how it works, as in is there an element in the sump?

Edit - it warms the radiator coolant, so it must then electro pump it?

if it just warms the coolant then not sure how it keeps the oil from solidifying

there is a few different versions. some fit a heater element in through the frost plugs on the block. some are an element in/on the crankcase. some are coolant lines with a small pump.

 

[peter Mongolia]

I've heard of that too.
These systems are installed in Norway, Sweden and Finland.
But Mongolia is a poor country where such devices are almost impossible to find.
I haven't found a distributor here yet.
We had made a brick garage last year. But the budget ran out. There are no windows or doors yet, only wooden panels.
Insulation and proper electrical cabling are for this year.
Then we will have a heated garage by next winter and this problem will be solved again.