I'm a little stumped here and thought I would ask the silly question.

I have recently acquired a 2003 TL TypeS AT (leaseback) and with the wonderfully chilly weather I was planning to plug the car in so it would be easier to start in the morning. however, I can't find the plug-in for the block heater. Is there some hidden spot they have it set? My previous Hondas just had the cord coming out the front in the grill and I would plug in there. I had a 2001 Ford Taurus (yeah yeah, I know... that is why the past tense is used) and the plug-in for that was set in a fixed bracket in the lower grill. Is the Acura set that way too? (not that I could find anything like that) If anyone has any idea, please let me know... it's -27C right now and the oil will be like tar!

I'd hate to think that there was no block heater; it's a necessity around here!

 

My car doesn't come with one. It is an option accessory through the dealer, but I don't believe they come equipped with them as a standard.

 

^^ Are you sure your car came with that option?

 

The car doenst come with one, its a option. First you need to find out if the car has one installed. If you looked and coulndt find the cord, id bet it doesnt have one

 

Look under acura parts on the web. My 2003 tls does not have one either. kit can be purchased for about $80.

 

Everyone above is correct. I bought one for my car like 3 years ago and never got around to installing. I believe you have to drain the coolant out to get the plug in (if memory serves me correctly). I actually told the Acura techs to do it when i was having my tranny swapped, but guess what? They forgot, so its still sitting in my closet. I had remote start on the car for the last 5 years so there is no _real_ need for it, but i like that peace of mind for those frigid NY winter nights

 

good battery, many many cold nights never ever had a problem starting it

 

Thanks guys. I know that the cars don't come with block heaters as standard. I was hoping that someone would have had one and known how it was installed.

Around here you don't buy a car, ANY car without one. When I said it was -27C (16F below) I wasn't joking. I don't bother plugging in wamer than -15C overnight low (5F above). Colder than that and the oil gets too thick to properly lube the engine and you can actually damage (scorch) the inside of the engine.

Anyways, I think I will have to break down and go to the dealer to check it out. Hopefully they won't bend me over too hard if I need to get one installed.

 

It's a fact , -35 celcius and no problems startin her up!Good synthetic oil is a plus too

 

Thanks! perhaps an oil change to synthetic would be a decent alternative

 

In that cold of a climate i wouldnt run any thing but. It doesnt get super thick like Dino oil does. It will get to where its supposed to alot faster, and allow the car to turn over alot easier

 

Thanks for the advice! you wouldn't believe the number of people up here who still run 10W30, though most have switched over to 5W30. Many still don't use synthetic. This according to my highly scientific process of hearsay.

 

I just bought 2003 TLS and it doesn't have a block heater either. As the weather changed to -25 to -30C in Winnipeg, Canada, I switched to synthetic 5W20 oil. I used to use synthetic 5W30 on previous Accord and had no problem starting even after sitting over 8 hours in extreme cold temperature. Accord had the block heater but never really used it regularly. Therefore, I don't think I will be putting one in the TLS and continue to use synthetics regularly.