When the windows of your car are frosted on the inside and you can see your breath while sitting behind the wheel, you might need to ask the question, “Why is my car’s heater not working?” Don’t spend the winter ignoring your comfort and health; take some time to think about possible solutions for your car’s heater problem.
Low Coolant
Cars use the heat from engine coolant to warm passenger areas. When your car’s engine has low levels of coolant, the transfer of heat becomes inefficient, resulting in a cold cabin. When you refill your car’s cooling system, you restore its ability to transfer heat away from the engine and into its cabin. Proper coolant levels also prevent heat-related damage to your car’s internal parts, so periodically check fluid levels.
Bad Thermostat
Car engines do not circulate coolant into the passenger area until engine temperatures rise above a certain level. When the engine warms, a device called a thermostat opens to allow coolant to flow through the heater core. A broken thermostat may never open, resulting in a car heater that does not work.
Malfunctioning Fan
Cars use fans to blow heat from the heater core into the passenger cabin. Without the fan, an otherwise functional coolant system may never warm your car. Fan failures can result from a broken electrical connection to the fan’s motor, a burned-out motor, or a blocked or broken fan blade.
Heater Core Failure
The heater core in your car acts like a small radiator mounted inside the cabin of your car. Most people never see the heater core, but they can still tell when it doesn’t work because the car’s heater doesn’t work. Steamed windows and the scent of engine coolant often betray a leaking heater core, compounding problems with a cold interior. Blocked heater cores simply prevent coolant circulation, causing the heater to blow cold air.
Operator Error
Long gone are the days when an automotive heater worked using one or two levers. Nowadays, car instrument panels and dashboards are replete with various gadgets, indicators, and controls. New options such as climate control zones and computerized climate settings complicate the operation of your car. If you have not owned your car for a long time, you might not know how to properly set the heater. Such a problem could cause you to erroneously believe that the heater in your car does not work. Spend some time reading the owner’s manual that came with your car to learn how to set the heater in your car. Figure out how your car’s heater works now before you experience the discomfort of driving in the cold.
Get Help Now
Car heater problems can make driving difficult, uncomfortable, and potentially hazardous during winter months, so test your heater now. If you find out that your car’s heater doesn’t work and you cannot fix it yourself, schedule a service visit with your dealer. Your dealer’s experienced service technicians can diagnose and repair any heater problem and teach you best practices for the use and maintenance of your car’s heater, so you never have to be cold while driving in the cold.
