Parts:

00213-00885 aka C0140-00885

Tools:

bright pen light and work lamp or headlamp
pliers
10 mm socket
6” socket extension
ratchet
small flat screwdriver
scissors




The elusive installation hole for the block heater.



Loosen the two screws that secure the air filter box cover.
Loosen the clamp (3).
Disconnect the sensor (1).
On the back side of (2), use the screwdriver to push the two prongs towards the center of the clip and you should be able to pop the clip out and separate it from the air filter box cover.
1 and 3 are pretty snug and take some effort to disconnect.
Remove the entire cover and set it aside.



Behind the box is a hose clamp (1).
Lift its tab with the screwdriver and it should release the hose.




Loosen the 3 bolts and remove the box.



The installation hole should be visible now.



Close-up view.

Once the installation hole is exposed, the actual installation is fairly straightforward.

I had to apply the grease to the heater itself because I couldn’t easily reach the hole. I used about 2/3rds of the tube and it was a bit too much so I’d recommend ½ a tube. I did not have the cord attached to the heater when I inserted it but I suspect it may be easier to insert the heater with the cord attached. The heater inserted with the clip facing the rear of the car. I felt and heard a snap so I assume it’s in.

Special thanks to JOE540CI for the part number and the general location of the block heater. And to my friend George who perused the service manual to help locate the install site despite not even owning a Toyota.

It's been powered on for a few hours now and I went to check that my car wasn't on fire. The engine block is hot to the touch. The ScanGauge said the coolant temperature (or whatever fWT is) was 125F. The hood was up the whole time so it could get warmer.

Awesome!!! It doesn't sound hard at all....thank you Squint

Yes, this is great information !! Well Done Squint and thanks much !!

The actual procedure itself isn't hard. Figuring out where and how to install the heater took a lot of time. I did a lot of unnecessary exploratory disassembly. At least I'm a lot more familiar with the car now.

Coolant temperature was 145F this morning when I started the car.

Thanks for the details. What was your outside temp during the test? I used to have a block heater in my previous car when I lived in South Dakota (got to 61 below zero one night without windchill!). But this was a plug into a house electrical outnet near the car that I only plugged in when it got below zero or 20 below (I forget the temp that was used to trigger it). I presume this one is also plugged into household electricity? Does the manual tell you when to activate it?

I think it was around 50-60F at the time.

I set the timer to turn on the heater 2 hours before my morning commute. When I started the car, it was only at around 105F so I think I'm going to have it turn on 3 hours before driving. Overnight temperatures were in the 40s. The garage is fairly good at retaining heat though.

I still managed to get the highest ever FE for my morning commute but I also had the first oil change yesterday (0W20 Mobil1).

The car seems to like to maintain the coolant temperature at 190F so unless the ambient temperature is 190F, I'm going to use the block heater whenever possible.