People may wonder why their cars are having problems. You have a good reason to be frustrated if, in the middle of a bitterly cold winter, your car heater starts to blow out cold air instead of heat. The chilly winter months can become nearly intolerable with faulty car heaters.
You have a clog in your cooling system if your coolant level is normal but your car heater is blowing cold air and your engine is overheating.
We will go over how a car heater operates, potential causes for its malfunction, and solutions in the sections below.
How Does a Car Heater Work?
The majority of automobile heaters warm the cabin using coolant. Here’s how it works:
- The coolant is heated to an extremely high temperature by the car’s engine.
- Through the heater core, which functions as a miniature radiator, coolant is forced.
- When air is forced through the heater core, hot air is blown into the vehicle.
For a few minutes after turning on the heating, it’s common to notice that the air is chilly; this is because the engine needs some time to warm up and heat the coolant.
Read More: Why Does My Car AC Smell Like Vinegar
Why is My Car Heater Blowing Cold Air?
Not Enough Coolant
Especially during the sweltering summer months, your car uses coolant, which is typically composed of 50% antifreeze and 50% water, to cool down its engine. When you turn up the heat in the winter, coolant from the engine is transferred to the heater core, which then blows warm air into your car.
For the first few minutes, it might feel cool because the engine needs to warm up before the coolant can heat up and heat the inside of your car. The first thing you should check is your coolant level if cool air keeps blowing out. When your car’s coolant level is low, it won’t be able to transfer any to the heater core to produce warm air.
Problems With Heater Core
Heater core issues are frequently linked to car heater issues: the blower motor may not be delivering air to the heater core, the small heater core tubing may be clogged, or coolant may not be moving through the heater core properly.
In a nutshell, heater cores are components of cooling systems that resemble small radiators. Brass or aluminum tubes and fans that disperse heat from the coolant are used to construct a heater core. The coolant is carried in and out of the heater core by the hot tubes. A vehicle’s heating and defrosting functions are handled by the heater core. Usually found directly behind the dashboards and heater cores.
Your heater core may be malfunctioning if your car isn’t blowing warm air into the cabin and the coolant level is normal. If you suspect that something is amiss with your car’s heater core, watch for these signs:
- Fog inside of your car
- A fruity, sweet-smelling odor
- Your car using coolant very quickly
- The engine overheating
Broken Or Clogged Heater Controls
The control buttons can occasionally stop functioning after being used for a while. You might need to replace some of the control buttons or your heater control valve if the coolant levels are normal and there doesn’t appear to be a problem with your heater core. Your hood’s heater control valve serves as the switch that turns the heat on and off. Your car might become stuck blowing cool air into the cabin if that component is not functioning properly.
Dysfunctional Thermostat
If you notice that your thermostat gauge stays on the “C” even after the engine has time to heat up, you may have a broken thermostat. The coolant won’t be sent over to your heater core to provide heat if the thermostat cannot tell the car that the engine is warm, keeping the air cool. Installing a new thermostat can quickly get your heater working again because they are a simple and inexpensive repair.
Water Leaks
A water leak is the final common issue with car heaters. Check your hoses, radiator, and water pump for damage because leaks can appear in a variety of places. Your car heater won’t operate correctly if any one of these three is leaking.
Winter can be much more enjoyable with a good heating system. You should have your heating system inspected by a trustworthy local auto repair shop if you experience any of these problems or can’t get heat to blow out of your vents. It’s crucial to take care of heater issues as soon as they arise. If you ignore the issue, it might later grow to be more serious and expensive.
Other Reasons a Car Heater Can Blow Cold
A car heater blowing cold is typically caused by the heater core. A mechanical, electrical, or vacuum issue is still a possibility. The specifics vary greatly from vehicle to vehicle, but the majority of systems have a blend door that modifies the amount of air that passes through the heater core or doesn’t pass through it at all.
It doesn’t matter if the heater core is operating flawlessly if the blend door is stuck. The heater core is effectively bypassed because the blend door is stuck, so all you’ll feel is cold air.
For a variety of reasons, and not always in the same way, blend doors can become stuck. It may be stuck partially closed, giving off only lukewarm heat, or stuck open, giving off all heat at once.
A blend door may also become stuck due to a broken switch, a broken vacuum line, a mechanical linkage, or for a variety of other reasons. Your vehicle’s heating system configuration will determine the precise diagnostic process to use if you suspect a blend door issue.
What Happens When You Ignore Heater Problems?
You shouldn’t assume that a broken heater in your car will make you significantly colder on your subsequent drive. If the blower fan fuse, motor, or wiring is to blame for the heater’s malfunction, the mechanical consequences aren’t as severe and you’ll just be cold. The cylinders of an engine could be about to overheat, though, if the cooling system is blocked, air is trapped, or there is a coolant leak.
Other safety risks are present even though catastrophic engine failure is not right around the corner. If your heater isn’t working, your defrosters aren’t working, and you can’t circulate warm air inside the cabin to keep the windows from fogging, which obviously affects driver visibility and poses a safety risk. Your top priority needs to be getting that heater fixed.
How Can I Avoid Car Heater Problems in the Future?
Fortunately, there are a number of doable actions you can take to avoid future car heater problems.
1. Have a mechanic service the heater system in your car once a year.
2. Check the coolant levels in your car’s radiator before you begin driving (do If your engine is hot, DO NOT check the coolant levels.).
3. If you notice any leaks or other engine problems, get assistance right away. Even the smallest issues could lead to a broken heater or something even worse.
The most crucial of all these actions is to have the heater system in your car serviced once a year. By doing so, you’ll be able to prevent any problems before winter.
Conclusion
Your driving experience can quickly change from comfortable to swelteringly chilly if your heater isn’t blowing warm air.
Consult a mechanic right away if you experience any of the issues mentioned here. Otherwise, your car heater could stop working altogether, which will likely result in a larger headache and costly fix.
FAQs
How Do I Fix My Car Heater Blowing Cold Air?
The heater core will blow cold air into your car if your system is lacking in coolant. Solution: To top off your coolant is all that is required if it is determined that a low coolant level is what is causing your issue. If you just recently topped off your coolant, you might want to look for leaks as well.
Why is My Car Blowing Cold Air But Not Heat?
The blowing of cool air from a car heater is typically caused by a few simple problems: an engine with insufficient coolant. The heater core is malfunctioning. Your thermostats are malfunctioning.
What to Do If Heater is Blowing Cold Air?
You might have a dirty or clogged air filter if your furnace is blowing cold air. Remove the air filter and check it to be certain. Clean it with compressed air, wash it in warm water with mild soap, or just buy a new one if it is clogged with dust.