Ive got a 2002 2d Cavillier and when i try to plug it in it trips the GFI recepticle. I brought it down to GM and it'll be about a month before it gets in there, and its going to get cold enough to possibly make the car unstartable before then. They told me it might be the block heater leaking. Also i installed a new battery recently so i dont know if its possible that i pinched a wire in that bundle that runs near the battery or not. Since its going to be so long before GM helps me out i was going to try some troubleshooting on my own and i was wondering if anyone here can point me in the right direction with some help or give me a link to an appropriate self help site.
If it is the block heater is this a replacement doable by someone who hasnt really done anything other than installed a new battery in a car before?

 

If the GFI trips immediately , then there is a short.
Quite likely the cord is shorted and usually can be replaced separately from the block heater .

Changing the block heater itself ... it's do-able but it's nasty and messy.

 

sometimes it takes a second a trip..
and just so you know i have tried other extension cords so its not that.
I will check out the cord tomorrow closer in the daylight. Thanks for the reply.