Air conditioning is an amazing invention. Having nice cool air in your home or vehicle is so nice. But what about when its winter and you want nice, toasty air to warm you from the cold? If your car heater is blowing cold air in December and January, thats not a good thing. Just like hot air in summer, cold air in the winter can be very troubling, especially if you spend a lot of time in your car.
Common Car Heater Problems
So why does a car heater blow cold air? There are several possible reasons for this. Lets look at some of the possibilities.
Bad Thermostat one of the first places to look is the temperature gauge on your dashboard. When you start your vehicle, the needle will be on the C. As you drive, and your engine begins to warm the temperature gauge begins to move toward the H. However, if your thermostat is bad, the needle will likely just stay on the C. Thats a problem because when the thermostat cant signal to your vehicle that the engine is warm, then the coolant wont be sent to help warm your heater core and the air stays cold.
Broker Heater Core speaking of heater cores, this is another common cause of your heater blowing cool air. If coolant isnt traveling through the heater core properly or there is a clog somewhere in the tubing, this could cause cold air to blow. If the thermostat is working properly and your coolant level is correct, it could be the heater core that is preventing warm air to blow through your vents. If the inside of your vehicle gets foggy, or there is a sweet smell coming from your vents, those are also signs that your heater core is bad.
Low on Antifreeze/Coolant if you dont have enough coolant, this could also cause an issue with air temperature. Coolant/antifreeze has two important jobs: to both cool and warm your engine. When you want hot air to blow during the cold months, the coolant is sent to the heater core from the engine, which then blows warm air into your cabin. Its common for heaters to blow cold air when they are first turned on. But as the engine warms, the air should warm with it. If it doesnt, then check your coolant fluid level. If its low the heater core cant do its job and create warm air.
Broken Heater Controls another possible culprit is the controls on your dashboard. Over time these buttons, knobs, or other types of controls wear out and stop functioning properly. For example, if the heater control valve, which is operated by one of the dashboard controls, is bad, you could get stuck with cold air instead of hot.
Water Leak last, but not least, is a water leak. Your car uses a lot of fluids so leaks can occur in a lot of places. If you cant get hot air, then you might need to check your hoses and pumps for leaks. If you find one, get it fixed.
Hoesly Will Get Your Car Blowing Hot Air Again
Driving around in the fall and winter with no hot air is no fun. Plus, it can be dangerous if your windows wont defrost, or they get too foggy. Dont settle for driving with your windows down. Bring your vehicle into Hoesly Eco Automotive to diagnose the problem and get it fixed.
If your car heater is blowing cold air, then its time to get that hot air back. Whether its not enough coolant, broken heater controls, a bad heater core, a leak, or a bad thermostat, we can find the issue and get it resolved.
If youre ready to have toasty hands and a clear windshield while you drive again, please give us a call at 360-695-5871 or click here to set up an appointment online. Well get your car to blow hot air again and get you safely back on the road.
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