[thebadlandsbest215]

Sorry to hear about your incident but agree that you caught it instead of waiting till the morning, but you know how parents are but I’m sure they’re really glad that you’re OK in the first place but far as not being notified about the defect & learning about it from a firefighter is kind of really disturbing & I’ll would of been & still really Pissed Off!

This is the 1st time I ever heard of Corollas with block heaters, the only things I knew of that had block heaters were diesel motor equipped vehicles but I guess I’m getting old or just lacked in catching up but if it’s true then I’d rather stick with the earlier models of Corollas!

 

[fjguercio]

Sorry,

Ask the fire dept for a written statement, there have been this many toyota block heater fires... with dates and names.
With dates & names can get report for each one from city or county
Good info to have if efforts are needed to make you whole.... those with lesser insurance may have been shorted.

The block heater, more watts more heat. They make magnetic block heaters, I have one, do not use it, not even sure where it is. Maybe look for heater with teflon insulation, more expensive to use in product, but is much higher temp rating, is more inert for moisture and chemicals. Have not looked but have lot of design experience with wire & electronics. Also if wire is getting hot, might be too small a copper wire. AWG is stamped on side of wire most likely, copper is money, so they cheap out. Just like your ext cords, rated for exterior and interior use. AWG wire will have a amp rating... use bigger wire than you should and will not get hot. I would expect a 16 -14 awg min.

Gather some of the information above, and talk with the other victims.... might be worth having a free intro talk to a few lawyers to get their opinion and options.

 

[peng]

This is the 1st time I ever heard of Corollas with block heaters, the only things I knew of that had block heaters were diesel motor equipped vehicles but I guess I’m getting old or just lacked in catching up but if it’s true then I’d rather stick with the earlier models of Corollas!

The recall goes all the way back to the 1998 Corolla. That was the first year they used the cartridge style heater. Prior to that they were using freeze plugs heaters.

 

[mrmike7189]

Home of Shania Twain. Timmins ont. Close enough thou LoL. And I’ll have to wait until after the weekend to find out anything. They did come take pictures of the car and car port / garage thou. Insurance is gonna replace one of the garage doors. Both actually , so they match Hah. Seems all of Canada is getting hit hard. Polar vortex. Down south just as cold apparently. And I wish i was in your shoes invader. But I got nothing to Fix. Err

We got some of that Polar Vortex this weekend here in New England. The Mount Washington(New Hampshire) weather Observatory set a new record low. They say it was Canadien air. It was crazy cold here too, 8 below zero in Massachusetts, but still don't see the need for a engine block heater? I dont know anyone that uses them, unless they own a diesel?

 

[Caster282]

WOW, I was thinking the same thing. Was the heater factory installed or after-market? Either way it needs to be reported to the CPSC.

Dealer installed. Common practice in these parts. most have them installed immediately upon delivery’s. mine was. I just had to add the all weather mats.

 

[Caster282]

My brother did me a solid and called the owners of our local toyota dealership Today. Him being good friends with them. Nice of him So anywho…skip the 2019 and grab the 23’ they have instead was the result. Haven’t seen pics or anything. i know its that metallic grey. Prefer the silver. The information on the car has (A). Anyone know what that means. Is that the basic se.. not upgrade package?

 

[RT27]

Sorry to hear about what happened. Thank goodness it was just the car. Gives me a renewed sense of how important checking for deteriorated 110vac wiring to a block heater is 😐. Speaking of cold, and manual 'boxes... not really a great mix unless you take time to warm them up. It's actually hard on the box to shift gear when super cold. 2nd gear starts can ease matters a bit, I suppose. Shifts into 2nd are harsh feeling, often, til things heat up a bit.

Just one more reason i live in the south. Freezing here is really just freezing 32 Fahrenheit.

 

[Gen4-L4-5MT]

Hey, even 40°F will make some manuals feel "grouchy" from being woken-up. I've never had a manual that hasn't, to varying degrees, needed to be "nursed" to operating temp. But 'real cold temps... that's grounds for starting in second for the first few starts, or shifting from first to third, in like manner.

 

[peng]

Dealer installed. Common practice in these parts. most have them installed immediately upon delivery’s. mine was. I just had to add the all weather mats.

You really should be going after Toyota on this one, not your insurance. Unless you were notified by Toyota about this recall, they are 100% responsible for all damages.

 

[jolly]

You really should be going after Toyota on this one, not your insurance

Indeed but that's actually what the insurer would do if it applies. Insures aren't charitable organizations and will seek reimbursement. One can go the way of courts to avoid rate rise or seek biggest amount but that's a real PIA in proof burden (among other things, if such is the case, that Toyota didn't send proper notification) and delays.

 

[peng]

Indeed but that's actually what the insurer would do if it applies. Insures aren't charitable organizations and will seek reimbursement. One can go the way of courts to avoid rate rise or seek biggest amount but that's a real PIA in proof burden (among other things, if such is the case, that Toyota didn't send proper notification) and delays.

In this case, since there is a safety recall in place the burden of proof for notification would be on Toyota. I doubt that Toyota has notified anybody and until Toyota suffers financially because of it, nothing will change.

 

[ken2116]

Glad you're not hurt, but you might want to visit a physician to establish documentation in the event problems from smoke inhalation develop down the road, and be sure to list smoke inhalation when filing the insurance report. Also, when the insurance pays off, don't sign anything indicating that you are accepting it as final payment, thus releasing them from future obligation for anything that becomes apparent or develops later. This might no longer be legal, but some years ago a coworker had problems with this following an injury accident.

 

[Caster282]

Is it really that bad ???? I believe you and others when you say it. Heck. The fire department talked about it… even had paramedics check me out. I just feel 20-30 minutes come and go — plus the carport is semi open, not enclosed. I’ll be okay. I’m sure constant exposure is different. For me it’s just a one time thing. Knock on wood!!

 

[peng]

It all depends on what's in the wiring's insulation. For indoor applications, low smoke zero halogen (LSZH) wiring is normally required by code. Not sure what kind of insulation is used on block heater wires or other wires, or even the bumper and other plastic components for that matter. It's probably worth seeing a doctor just to be safe.

 

[invader]

My morning wasn’t a good one.. Trust me!! -41 running back and forth with buckets of water . A good 30 minutes until Firefighrers showed up They said it was the block heater 2020 Corolla se. 6speed ..a shame , I liked it View attachment 412059
View attachment 412060

Exactly 58 years and a few hours after the great Timmins mine fire.

 

[Caster282]

I don’t see doctors thou. Ever!! I don’t get flu shots. Not in 30 years. And don’t get sick Ever!! So called Deadliest virus known to man didn’t get me - and I tried to catch it. I really don’t wanna see Dr’s and get test done and complicate this already stressful situation. Besides. What they gonna do? If I did damage my lungs. Give me new ones. No. Just bad news and send me home. I’ll live till 80 Vs 90. Meh.

 

[Caster282]

Exactly 58 years and a few hours after the great Timmins mine fire.

Hollinger fire. Yup. That was a BIG ONE!!!

 

[Caster282]

My Grandfather r.i.p. was a ventilation engineer. Played a large part in underground mining and how things are done now. Then went off to teach at Haileybury school of mines. Weird how not many talk about the history around here anymore - considering Timmins still revolves around mining. Only thing keeping this town alive.

 

[jolly]

In this case, since there is a safety recall in place the burden of proof for notification would be on Toyota. I doubt that Toyota has notified anybody and until Toyota suffers financially because of it, nothing will change.

Not saying at all that Toyota isn’t ultimately responsible, just that it’s much easier and faster to go through insurance and let them do the court work. After all, you pay them to take the hits. Current lawsuits from insurers regarding those block heaters involve a lot of ramifications and defendants jointly to avoid missing the target. Courts have to disentangle and attribute responsibilities case by case. Nothing is simple in court and it can be a bit overwhelming – and awfully long and time consuming – for an individual to engage in.

Arguments turn around the problem being known and the recall being public. Still, Toyota is incredibly slow. As far as personal notification (beside simple issue from Canada Post), it might involve dealer neglecting to ascribe this “dealer installed” part to VIN. Or not being diligent to replace its stock of recalled block heaters. Technicians aren’t immune if picking said wrong part or incorrectly installing it. Technically, even plaintiff is at risk, if using the block heater outside specified scope of operation (4 hrs max, under -15°). Years of sometimes ugly debates and pleasure...

 

[peng]

I'd suspect that in a case like this Toyota would be very quick to settle out of court and then get their sh!t together by notifying everyone affected as they said they would. Even the dealers seem to think that a wiring inspection is all that is needed here. A cable that looks perfectly fine can burn in less than half an hour once plugged in. Agreed though that insurance should chase Toyota. This isn't a one-and-done risk for insurers - there are tens of thousands of potential future claims out there. This all hinges on whether or not the fire department declared the block heater as the cause.