There are many reasons why a car heater is not working. According to the Popular Mechanics website, a common cause of a car's heater not working is a buildup in the heater core. If coolant level is low check the system for leaks. However, I wasn't getting any heat out of the heater. Until the engine warms up, there’s no heat for the heater core to extract. A bit of background on the working of car heater fans will be helpful in diagnosing the source of the problem. Either the blower isn't working, in which case you may get warm air but not much of it, or it is blowing air but it may not be very hot. Ken Mattson, owner of Len’s Automotive in Bellevue, Wash., says a car heater can stop working for a number of reasons, including: • A low antifreeze/water level in the radiator due to a leak in the cooling system. Filling the coolant may fix the problem in the short term. If it is stuck, it may be allowing the coolant to always be run through the radiator, which keeps it too cool to allow for heat in … When a car heater doesn't work, the most common cause is low coolant. A different reason for the heat to not work would be a lack of coolant going through the engine. Check if the blower motor receives power. Such as blower fuse cut off or relay or damage of blower motor. Dan Ferrell (author) on November 25, 2019: It's not safe to drive without a temperature gauge, but you may want to try an aftermarket solution in the meantime, so you can keep an eye on the temperature. If you determine that hot antifreeze flows through the heater core, there may be debris in the heater box. There could even be a puddle of liquid under the front of the vehicle. Her expertise includes social media, web development, and graphic design. How Does a Car Heater Work? What is black ice and what to do if you hit it. Also, my termperature gage on the instrument panel keeps going from normal back down to "C" (cold) while I'm driving. It's the most likely reason your heat won't turn on. If you replace a blown fuse with one of the same amperage and it doesn't go out, then the fuse likely failed due to age. Keep topped up to the max level with the engine running. When it does happen, you're left with a miserably underpowered heat or AC system. In the heating system in the passenger compartment of your car cold and is blowing via a fan over the heater core to warm the air. If your heat is not working, the first thing to do is figure out why. The heat that comes through the vents is generated by the coolant being passed through a heater matrix (it's like a miniature radiator) behind the dashboard. Even if you live in Florida, Texas or California, these days you need your car's defroster to work properly to fight those early morning chills, and if you live up north a working heater can be a matter of life or death. If the blower doesn't receive power, check the blower fuse to make sure it's not blown. Then warm up your vehicle and see if the defroster starts working better. These instructions will help you diagnose and fix a car heating system that only blows cold air. If it receives power, check if the blower motor is burned out, If the blower doesn't receive power, check the blower fuse to make sure it's not blown. Lack of maintenance. It's almost as unpleasant to have a heater that's not giving out enough heat. My 2013 Ford Edge is blowing heat on the passenger side and cold air on the drivers side. Check for debris in the heater box. Why is the Heater Not Working? Check coolant levels by inspecting: To find out what's wrong with your car's heating system and what you can do to fix it, you first need a basic read of the situation. Either the blower isn't working, in which case you may get warm air but not much of it, or it is blowing air but it may not be very hot. I think since the system had a flush, there were some air pockets that did not get filled in the system. A faulty or broken thermostat is the most common cause of your car’s failing heat. If the original fuse is not blown, trace the problem back to the source by testing the resistor, relay, and switch. The fan inside your car then blows heat off of it to give the cabin heat. 2. Christine Baker is a marketing consultant with experience working for a variety of clients. When your vehicle’s engine has cooled down, open the radiator cap and check the level of coolant. Reasons Why a Car Heater Stops Working There are a few reasons why a car heater may be on the fritz—it depends on the nature of the problem. Using a Space Heater as an Electric Car Heater, Finding a Cheap Fix for a Broken Defroster, How to Fix Sweet, Mildewy, and Burning Smells From Your Car Heater, The 10 Best Portable Electric Car Heaters of 2020, What to Do When the Gauges in Your Car Aren't Working, How to Fix It When a PS5 Won't Take, Read, or Eject a Disc. Please what can be the cause? Lift the hood and check the temperature around where the heater core hoses enter the heater core box. Before we dive into the details on what can cause a car heater to not blow hot air out we first need to understand how a car heater works. When you regulate the thermostat from hot to cold and don't hear the blend door moving, there may be a problem with the blend door, linkage, wiring, or the thermostat switch, depending on the vehicle. Not sure if the new radiator had anything to do with it or not. If the valve is stuck and prevents coolant from flowing through the heater core, that may be the source of the problem. • A blower fan that isn’t working properly. Here is what to check if your heater or defroster isn't working: Coolant/Air lock - Did you top off the coolant as described above? Instead, you might have a failed thermostat, which opens and closes circuits in the cooling system as the engine heats up. I replaced my car ECU and noticed the temperature guage stopped working. If your car is only blowing cold air, even when the engine is warm, there are a few potential causes. If the coolant is low, or there is an air lock (and also after replacing any faulty parts) you need to fill the system properly. Another likely cause of a car that runs OK, but has no heat is a stuck thermostat. The heated air circulated through vents into car interiors is directed by the heater fan. If your car has not been overheating or running hot, your water pump is not the culprit. I ended up adding an entire gallon of coolant over 2 days. Even if you’re missing a little coolant from the system, the engine can still run at the correct operating temperature. Check the coolant level. So, a problem with the vehicle's cooling system might also cause the heater to underperform or stop working. The thermostat should open and close as the engine temp moves up. The only way to determine which component has failed is to grab some basic diagnostic tools, access the blower motor, and check whether or not it receives power. Trying to work out why your car heater isn't working and why the car heater is blowing cold air when it should be hot? If it receives power, check if the blower motor is burned out. That sounds a little odd right? Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day, How to Fix It When Your Car Heater Isn't Working, How to Fix It If Your Car Heater Isn't Blowing Any Air, Universal Replacement Car Heaters That Work. For the cold engine to warm up quickly, it is fitted with a thermostat. Now, if the upper radiator hose is hot but the lower hose and the heater hoses are cold then try a new thermostat and see if the issue is repaired or not. There are many reasons your car's heater isn't working. The thermostat, and clutch or electrically controlled cooling fan work in conjunction to keep the water at the optimum temperature. Or not if your car heaters are not working. He also ghostwrites articles for numerous major trade publications. Maybe the fan is malfunctioning. Car Heater Blowing Cold Due to Cooling System Issue Had heater core flushed and now it's providing lukewarm heat but still not like what it should provide. When a car’s heater is not working in the middle of winter, it can make your daily commute miserable and cold. Squeeze the top radiator hose to help air pump around the system (taking care to avoid any moving parts, in particular the radiator fan, which could come on suddenly without warning). Beginner’s guide: what is a four stroke engine and how does It work? It’s also the reason that a plugged heater core, stuck thermostat, or air in the cooling system can all cause a car’s heater to blow cold. If cold air is coming out of the heating vents, even when the vehicle is warmed up and the thermostat is set to hot, you could be dealing with one of the following problems: If the heater is broken because it's not blowing any air, it's likely due to a faulty blower motor or electrical connection. The first thing to be affected will be the heater core — since it is higher than the engine, there might not be enough coolant to reach it. If the temperature gauge isn't moving much from the lowest reading, or the car runs poorly for more than a few minutes on a cold day, the cooling system may not be working properly. The coolant is housed in a translucent plastic jug in the engine compartment. It's just iddle? Why Does My Car Have No Heat? If you notice that your thermostat gauge stays on the “C” even after the … Mechanic's Assistant: Have you checked the coolant level? However, low coolant often indicates another problem, such as a leaking gasket or hose. If the heater isn't blowing any air, skip to the next section. A thermostat prevents the coolant from flowing until the motor gets warm enough. A vehicle thermostat regulates the coolant temperature in the engine. Coolant that is a dark brown color indicates that there is rust in the cooling system. Lack of maintenance is probably our #1 source of service calls during the winter. Update on the issue. One of the most common problems with an automotive climate control system is a lack of blower pressure or no blower at all. It's no fun getting into your car on a frosty winter's morning only to find the car heater not blowing hot air. This can happen when leaves, pine needles, or road debris are in the heating system. • A bad thermostat that isn’t allowing the engine to properly warm up. Orders for printed manuals placed on or after December 24 will be shipped when we reopen on January 4th, 2021. It should have level indicators that show how full or empty it is. If one hose is the same temperature as the coolant and the other hose is cold, there may be a blockage in the heater core. Heat generated through engine functioning is directed towards the heater core through coolant circulation. Check the heater core temperature. Why Doesn't the 12v Socket in My Car Work? If the vehicle has a valve in one of the hoses, check its operation. Rubber hoses carry the coolant from the motor to the radiator, and also to the heater core, which is basically a smaller radiator under the dashboard. Turn off the vehicle and let the engine cool completely. Is There a Cheaper Alternative to Air Conditioning? When cold the thermostat restricts the flow of coolant to prevents it from entering the radiator. Had radiator flushed and thermostat replaced. The heater in your car is able to blow hot air into the cabin because of a part called a heater core. A small amount of hot coolant is diverted into a hose fitted into the firewall and then into a small heat exchanger or heater core. You can easily understand this issue. The specific diagnostic procedure varies depending on the vehicle. Read on to see how your car's heater, the heater core and engine cooling system work, see if the car heater will work without a thermostat and find out how to fix it. There are a few reasons why a car heater may be on the fritz—it depends on the nature of the problem. Follow these steps to fix the problem. If the coolant level is low, the vehicle likely isn't circulating enough antifreeze through the heater core and needs to be replenished. Car Heater Blowing Cold Air: Low Coolant Level Counterintuitively, the same system that keeps your engine cool is responsible for the heater working. A network of passages carry liquid antifreeze/coolant around the hotter parts of the engine. If a thermostat is stuck in the closed position, it will never allow coolant to circulate fully, so no heat for you. To do this, set the heater controls in the car to maximum heat, remove the radiator cap (or remote mounted coolant pressure cap, sometimes on the overflow tank) and fill to the correct level. A blown fuse often indicates a different underlying problem, so never replace one with a larger fuse to prevent it from blowing out again. If the heater is broken because it's not blowing any air, it's likely due to a faulty blower motor or electrical connection. Blower Fan is not working: If your car blower fan is inactive or damaged, car heater will work but warm air will not reach inside of your car. The cooling system on modern cars is fairly straightforward. Step 1 - A heater cannot operate unless the engine is full of coolant/antifreeze. If your coolant level is low, it could keep your heater core from getting enough coolant to produce heat. All Digital manuals are available instantly after purchase! Once the engine is up to temperature the thermostat opens and the coolant flows around the whole system. Between the engine heat and the water pump, all the air should be forced from the system. There are some common reasons can occur this. Reasons Your Car Won't Heat | Heater Stopped Working Heat in automobiles is supplied by hot coolant circulating through the engine. 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