I realize this may sound silly, but I'm wondering where the block heater, or possibly oil pan heater plug is located. I used to have the cord, but unfortunately I was in an accident last year and the cord was ripped off. I tried looking for where it plugs in at one point, but couldn't find it. It's now in the shop being fixed, and I'm trying to get my insurance company to cover the cost of replacing it. Last time I talked to the technicians at the shop, they said they couldn't find it. I don't know how hard they looked, or if they have found it since. I told them it's there, and to keep looking. But in case they still haven't found it, I was hoping to give them some guidance.

I live in central Canada, and our winters are brutal. The previous (and original) owner was a wealthy man, and bought the car in the same city, so I know he bought the cold-weather package, or whatever it's called. I've just heard some people say that there is no such thing as a block heater, while others say there is. But no one says where it's located.

 

Block heaters never came on American b5's, even ones with the cold weather package. I am pretty sure Canadian models didn't even come with a block heater. If it has one on it, the heater is most likely aftermarket. I am not aware of any provision for a block heater on the block, so the one that is on there is most likely a magnetic one, or spliced into a coolant line

 

Anyone else know differently? What about Oil Pan heaters? Was that offered with any packages?

 

OK, I talked with the original owner, who said the dealer supplied it when he purchased the vehicle. He isn't much of a mechanically inclined person, so he had no idea what kind of heater it was. I called the dealer, who told me that they had 2 options back in those days. Either it was a stick on heater for the oil pan, or it was one of those in-line heaters that's spliced into the oil lines. Hopefully the shop can find out which one it is and fix it!