Real quick, sit down and make a list of the top ten most important features in your car.
Now, what did you come up with? Stereo? Cupholders? Brakes?
We’re willing to be a lot of you overlooked a crucial one: the heater core. Not only is it absolutely essential if you live in a place with cold weather, but it also plays a huge role in other critical systems like the defroster. A properly working heater core can even help to regulate engine temperature, and if it becomes broken or clogged, it could spell disaster. So, how do you know if yours has gone kaput?
What is a Heater Core?
In a car, the heater core is responsible for warming the air that the A/C system pumps into the cabin. Not only does this allow you to adjust the ambient temperature to a comfortable level during the wintertime, but it also allows you to defrost and defog the windshield, which is vital in order to properly see while driving.
Functionally, the heater core works much like the radiator, and it’s connected to the engine cooling system. When engaged, hot coolant from the motor flows through the tubes of the heater core, and when you turn the heat on in your car, a small but powerful fan blows through the heater core, which pushes hot air out of the vents and into the passenger area of the car.
The heater core is generally located inside the dash assembly, most often near the center. Because of its location, multiple parts usually have to be removed to gain access.
Signs Your Heater Core is Not Working
If you experience any of the following symptoms in your car, it’s a good idea to bring it to a local service technician to get the problem diagnosed.
The Heater Just Plain Doesn’t Work
This one’s pretty self-explanatory. If you crank that heater up and the air isn’t as warm as it used to be, the heater core should be one of the first potential culprits on your list.
A common cause of a faulty heater core is that it’s clogged. Over time, debris can collect in the fins of the core, and if this debris builds up enough, the fan won’t be able to blow air through the core and into the cabin. This is often an issue that gradually develops, meaning you may notice your heater working less and less as time goes on, so it’s good to pay attention and test your heater periodically, even if you don’t use it regularly.
If you have the right tools and a decent amount of automotive knowledge, it’s possible to unclog a heater core yourself. But, this involves manually running water or air through the cooling system, which can be detrimental to the engine if done improperly, and can also damage the heater core’s internal workings if you exceed the correct pressure. So, if you suspect that your heater core is clogged, it’s recommended to seek the help of a professional service tech.
On the other hand, if the heat goes completely kaput all of a sudden, it could mean that the core has failed entirely. This will require heater core replacement.
The Windshield Won’t Defrost
This one goes hand in hand with the no heat thing.
Your car’s primary defroster (also known as the defogger) is a vent located where the dash meets the windshield. When engaged, it blows warm, dry air onto the windshield and front windows, thereby melting any built-up snow, ice, or condensation. Notice we said warm dry air. Without a working heater core, the air from the vent can’t heat up properly, and cold air doesn’t melt frost, for obvious reasons.
If you find that your defroster isn’t working, the first step is to rule out any vent issues by placing your hand over the defroster to make sure air is indeed coming out. If you have the defroster on but don’t feel anything, it could be another issue, like a blend door not routing the air properly. The defroster vent itself could also be clogged.
However, if the defrost vent is working but no hot air comes out, it’s time to have the heater core checked.
Is That Antifreeze I Smell?
The coolant in a car is made of a 50-50 mixture of water and antifreeze, and antifreeze has a pretty distinct smell that’s unlike any other automotive fluids. It’s often described as sweet or fruity, and if you detect this scent in your car, it sometimes means that you have a leak somewhere in the heater core, and the fan is blowing the coolant leaking inside the core into the cabin.
The telltale smell of antifreeze can be an early sign of a heater core wearing out with age and developing leaks. There are many products that are marketed to stop leaks, but this is a temporary solution at best, and it runs the risk of further damaging the coolant system. When in doubt, it’s always best to bring it to the shop for professional diagnosis.
Coolant Leaking into the Cabin
If you have a big enough leak, it may physically start to spill onto the carpet of your car. Leaks from the heater core sometimes occur under the dashboard, resulting in a damp puddle, which can begin to smell or cause excessive window fogging.
If you notice a wet spot on the floor of your car, the first move is to identify the liquid. If it has no discernable smell, it’s probably water, and this actually indicates a problem with the air conditioning system leaking built-up moisture. But, if it smells like antifreeze, a leaky heater core is one of the first potential problems to rule out.
The Engine is Running Hot
Because the heater core is part of the engine cooling system, if it leaks, you’ll slowly start to lose coolant. If a leak goes unaddressed for long enough without replenishing the fluid, the engine will start to overheat. That’s not good.
Conventional wisdom dictates that engine temperature should fall somewhere between 195- and 220-degrees Fahrenheit. Of course, many car temperature gauges don’t actually show numbers. At optimal temp, the dial should be right around the middle, or just below it. So, after it has a chance to warm up, if your driver info display is reading above the center, it means that it’s at risk of potentially overheating.
The next step is to consult your owner’s manual and find out how to check your coolant level. If it’s low, fill ‘er up. Then, monitor it over the next week or so, and if the levels have noticeably dropped, you definitely have a leak somewhere.
The heater core is but one of many places that a coolant leak can develop, so if you notice the temp gauge on your dash creeping higher than usual, it’s absolutely pivotal that you bring it into the shop to figure out where the issue lies.
Schedule Car Repairs in Kansas City
Is your car not acting right? Is the heat not pumping hot? Fret not, because McCarthy Chevy of Overland Park has an expert service department ready to go. Give us a call at 866-565-8106, and don’t forget to ask about our available service financing to help you get back on the road without breaking the bank.
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