How long can I run a hair blower?

[clovis]

It is currently about 1*F right now, and I need to warm up the interior of the car.

You see, my wife spilled a Coke a while back in our HHR, and the cold weather has caused the gear shift knob to freeze up. The Coke has caused this to stick in the cold weather.

If I run an extension cord from the house, and use a hair blower/dryer to warm the interior of our car, I think it would warm the interior to cause the gear shift knob to free up.

So, does anyone know how long I can run a hair dryer without ruining it? I hate to ruin a $20 hair dryer...

Thanks in advance!!!!

[Pink_Carnation]

It depends on the hair dryer but not much longer than it takes to dry hair usually. You would want to be sure and watch that it is not getting to hot.

[Windy in Kansas]

Originally Posted by Pink_Carnation

You would want to be sure and watch that it is not getting to hot.

Also that the extension cord is of adequate capacity for the length of run to accommodate the amperage.

[CarolT]

Soak the gearshifter with WD40. My BIL taught me that when I did the same to my Olds Toronado shifter. Worked without sticking for years after!

[clovis]

UPDATE:

I used the hair dryer on the gear shift, and it worked like a charm!!!!

I still believe that these new Chevy cars have such tight tolerances in manufacturing that just a drop or two of Coca-Cola will cause anything to stick.

We've owned that HHR since 2006, and I still can't believe how tight the tolerances are on the entire car. This includes the interior, exterior, plastic and steel.

Again, thank you for the replies!!!!!!

[michiganfarmer]

you can run it til it burns up,lol

[Country Lady]

I've had a hair dryer in the past that would shut off automatically if it started getting too hot. I'm not sure if they all do that or not.

[clovis]

Originally Posted by michiganfarmer

you can run it til it burns up,lol

I initially thought about running the hair blower in the car, and leaving it for an hour.

I can't say that my wife would be excited if I burned up her only hair blower...it was an expensive model when new!

Thanks again!!!!

[Txrider]

Originally Posted by Country Lady

I've had a hair dryer in the past that would shut off automatically if it started getting too hot. I'm not sure if they all do that or not.

Every one I have ever seen does. I believe it's a UL requirement.

[unregistered65598]

Ok I am confused......Why not just start the car and warm it up?

Glad it worked for ya though.

[Caitedid]

Glad someone else has this problem. I've blown up two cans of Dr. Pepper in my car in the last 6 months, so I'll have to try the WD 40.

[ibcnya]

If it was a diet soda you wouldn't have had any problems. I have spilled em, left in the car till they froze and busted and have never had any sticky problems.

[Harry Chickpea]

Does this have something to do with all the dying birds and fish? People are suddenly spilling and blowing up cans of soda pop in their vehicles? At LEAST they have the good graces for it to be Coke and Dr. Pepper. Of course, us Sundrop drinkers would NEVER do something like that...

[clovis]

Originally Posted by Merks

Ok I am confused......Why not just start the car and warm it up?

Glad it worked for ya though.

I was starting to put the car in gear when the gear shift knob got stuck, which was just enough to activate the neutral safety switch. Who would have thunk the shifter knob release button would have stuck 3/16" inch after moving it.

I shut the car off, but then couldn't restart it because it was technically in gear.

FWIW, I shut it off...later to prove to be a dumb move...because I thought it would burn a ton of gas just waiting for the shift knob release button to free up. I figured it could take 15 minutes, and maybe much, much longer, just sitting there burning gas, with my foot on the brake pedal, and the car in reverse.

Based on how long it took a radio button, also with Coke under it, to free up last week during cold weather, I figured it might be hours of waiting.

[How Do I]

I've been running a little rinky----- hair dryer for about 30-45 minutes at a time once a week for about a year now. Maybe a little longer?? It's been so long, I forgot how long I've been doing it.

[Horseyrider]

I watched a new program a week or two ago called My Strange Addiction, where one woman was addicted to sleeping with the blow dryer. (She liked the white noise and the heat, but not the occasional burns.) Her blow dryers would go all night, every night, for ages.

I had no idea that blow dryers could go that long and not overheat, but apparently they can and they do.

I'm glad you're unstuck now.

[texican]

Originally Posted by clovis

I was starting to put the car in gear when the gear shift knob got stuck, which was just enough to activate the neutral safety switch. Who would have thunk the shifter knob release button would have stuck 3/16" inch after moving it.

I shut the car off, but then couldn't restart it because it was technically in gear.

FWIW, I shut it off...later to prove to be a dumb move...because I thought it would burn a ton of gas just waiting for the shift knob release button to free up. I figured it could take 15 minutes, and maybe much, much longer, just sitting there burning gas, with my foot on the brake pedal, and the car in reverse.

Based on how long it took a radio button, also with Coke under it, to free up last week during cold weather, I figured it might be hours of waiting.

My automatic truck had the same problem, sorta ... the shifter wouldn't move at all. Hard to go anywhere, stuck in park. BIL pulled a little pin out of something, and now it'll shift easy, and crank in Park or Neutral. Silly safety stuff.

[chickenmommy]

Ya'll need to stop drinking soda. Seems it's bad for you in more ways than one!

[fellini123]

Originally Posted by How Do I

I've been running a little rinky----- hair dryer for about 30-45 minutes at a time once a week for about a year now. Maybe a little longer?? It's been so long, I forgot how long I've been doing it.

I groom a full grown Afghan Hound with full show coat with a little hair dryer I got from Target. It takes about 3 hours of running continualy. I have been doing it for years. I replace the dryer about once a year. No problems.

Alice in Virginia

[Solarmom]

Originally Posted by chickenmommy

Ya'll need to stop drinking soda. Seems it's bad for you in more ways than one!

Thinking the same thing here...otherwise DON'T FEED THE TROLLS!!!