So once again I'm trying to get this fourth plug out of my 2nd gen. You see, there's this little bracket surrounding it that doesn't permit a regular 13/16 plug socket. The bracket appeared to be holding the Airconditioner unit in place.
Thankfully enough, I have two sets of sockets. I proceeded to grind the walls of one down so that I could fit it in. After several attempts at that, I soon gave up. (I've gone through this several times over the winter.) Since the weather was nice today and I had all the time in the world, I thought.....what the heck, I'll start ripping out the bracket, airconditioner unit, etc... whatever else had to come off to get this plug out. Suddenly the truth appeared before my niave eyes.....that stupid bracket that was sitting in the way this whole time was the silly block heater!!
Here are my next few thoughts in order of arrival....
1. Who tacked a friggin heat iron to the side of this motor???
2. Why would someone tack a friggin heat iron to the side of the motor???
3. That couldn't be the block heater. They go inside the block.
4. Holy crap, that's is the block heater! No friggin way!!
5. No wonder it didn't work worth crap all winter! (Refering to the block heater. Not the car.)
6. Gawd, I'm an idiot.
As soon as I saw what it was and how it was actually connected, it came off in about 2 minutes.

Anyway,
This was probably all explained in full detail as to what it was, why it was there, how easy it is to remove, etc.... on this forum somewhere, but needless to say, I didn't read it. LOL

 

It's the only type of block heater I've ever seen on an FB.
Yes they suck, but it's still better than nothing...

 

It's the same one I have, and mine does work. But I recently saw the one that SEXY REXY85 installed on hers--- it's an inline type that mounts in the lower rad hose. It's a way more efficient design and I may upgrade mine to one of those. I forgot to ask her what she paid for it.

 

It's a sparkplug heater... the block heater (if equipped) is to the left of it and actually screws into the block.

 

Where can you buy an in-block? Or an in-hse for that matter?

 

Mazda should have it. It screws into the front cover (there's a hex head bold there normally).

 

they have not made the probe type for years.
but they were the best for cold weather starting. next best is the one
that bolts up to under the oil pan, i beleve there is a new one that glues on to the
oil pan that works well to.
matt

 

Theres one you can get that sticks to the bottom of the oil pan. Its really cool and paper thin. It works VERY well and costs about $65 for the kit. Kit includes the adhesive and silicon and all that stuff.

 

I bought a coolant circulation heatter that goes into the lower Rad hose, and it worked SUPER WELL this past winter even in -28 deg days.

 

I think I'll be going with a coolant circulation heater next year. This plug/block heater just didn't work as well as I would have expected. (She still turned over quite hard during -15 to -20 weather.)

 

Okay... so again I ask, where can I get one of these "good" heaters?

 

you can get a colant circulation heatter, at your local canadian tire, they are even listed under your car... in their computer... so they can get you the "right" size.

 

They're the bastards that sold me the sparkplug heater...