You get into your car on a cold winter morning, start it up, and wait for the engine to warm up so you can turn on the heat. Then, it happens… cold air comes blowing out of the vents! “What?! Why isn’t my car heater working?!” Well, it could be happening for any number of reasons. I’ll explain in more detail shortly. I will also give you some background on how your car’s heating system works and what you can do to make sure it’s properly maintained.
How does my car heater work?
To understand why your car heater isn’t working, you first need to know how it works. Your car’s engine is water-cooled. That means the radiator, thermostat, belts, water pump, and hoses all work to circulate water through the engine. The heating system in your car uses the hot water from the engine to warm the air that gets vented into your car’s interior. The hot water flows through the heater core (a small radiator) and a blower fan distributes the heat into the cabin of your vehicle.
Note: If your car’s heating system isn’t working properly, it’s important to have it checked. There could be a problem with your entire engine cooling system, which if left unfixed, could lead to an overheated engine and possible engine damage.
Why would properly maintaining the cooling system help with my car’s heating system?
Remember, your car heater works off of the cooling system in your vehicle. Properly maintaining the cooling system is vital to making sure the heating system is working properly. Have the coolant flushed and refilled with a clean mixture of coolant and water on a regular basis. It’s also important to make sure you repair any leaks that occur in your cooling system. When you have your oil changed at Country Road Automotive, we’ll perform a 27-point courtesy inspection on vital components of your car engine. We’ll be able to tell you when it’s time to replace the coolant. We’ll also let you know if you need to replace any worn belts or hoses.
What could be causing the problem with my car’s heating system?
If it’s cold outside and your car heater isn’t working, it could be the result of any of the items listed below. Some of these things you can check on your own. Others, unless you’re great at do-it-yourself car repair, will have to be diagnosed and corrected by an experienced auto mechanic. Here are some things to look for:
- There’s not enough coolant in the system. This is most likely due to a leaky radiator cap or a slow leak somewhere in the system. Wait until the car engine is cool and check the coolant level in the radiator. If you need to add coolant, make sure you use the proper mixture of coolant to water.
- There may be an air pocket in the heater core. You’ll be able to tell if coolant is circulating through the heater core by feeling both inlet and outlet hoses on the heater core. They should feel hot when the engine is at normal operating temperature and the heater is on.
- There’s a problem with the car’s thermostat.
- The Heater Control Valve is defective.
- Debris in the cooling system has clogged the heater core and blocked the flow of coolant. If this is the cause, you’ll have to replace the heater core. It’s also a good idea to flush the entire cooling system and replace the coolant with a 50/50 mixture of coolant and water.
- Electrical problems that prevent the blower motor from working. You can tell if this is the cause because you won’t hear sound or air coming through the system.
- The fan motor has failed and no longer spins.
- A heater hose has kinked.
- The water pump has failed and needs to be replaced.
Trust your car heater repairs to the experts at Country Road Automotive in Lincoln Park, New Jersey
We’ve got the trained technicians and the proper equipment to diagnose and fix your heating system problems. Click here to schedule your car’s heating system repair today.