Another common entry point is through grilles on top of the bonnet. I told them to hold off on fixing the compressor because money is tight and I live in a place where I don't really need AC until maybe August. Potential problems with your car’s HVAC system The potential issues here vary whether your heating has gone out or your car’s AC system is on the fritz. I have an '08 Azera with the auto temp system in it. At the simplest level, there are two main reasons why the heater is not working. It’s a common misconception that if a car’s heater system is not working, the thermostat must be bad. At the simplest level, there are two main reasons why the heater is not working. 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. Even isolated defects do not impair functionality. 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. Check for debris in the heater box. Jeremy Laukkonen is tech writer and the creator of a popular blog and video game startup. He also ghostwrites articles for numerous major trade publications. Her expertise includes social media, web development, and graphic design. Collecting Initial Information Turn the air conditioning on while the car is running. First and foremost, your car’s engine need to run to warm up the engine’s "antifreeze." When your vehicle’s engine has cooled down, open the radiator cap and check the level of coolant. Rotated all the PDC relays around, they have the same ID, other than ABS pump. Check the coolant level. Watch for the coolant level to drop as the thermostat opens. Some of this byproduct; heat from the engine transferred by the circulating coolant is used to as a benefit to heat the passenger compartment. 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. The engine will need to run for several minutes to build up heat. Christine Baker is a marketing consultant with experience working for a variety of clients. Is the heater blowing cold air into the car, or is the car heater not blowing any air at all? I have an '08 Azera with the auto temp system in it. Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day, Lifewire uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Your air conditioning system uses a refrigerant, a compressor, an expansion valve and two heat exchangers to manage air flow and cool the air inside the cabin of your vehicle. If one or more of these issues is present, your vehicle may blow out cool air rather than heat: Not enough coolant in the engine; Problems with the heater core If the heat is blowing, but blowing cold, it has something to do with the coolant getting to the heater core, or the heater core itself. If you notice that your thermostat gauge stays on the “C” even after the … The fan blows the heat away from the core and distributes it into the cabin of the car. Another likely cause of a car that runs OK, but has no heat is a stuck thermostat. Before I took it there, I had burned out the AC Compressor. In wire-based heating systems, for example, even minor breaks in the metal can lead to failure,” the report said. About Car Heater Fans. Along the same lines as the coolant system issues, a malfunctioning thermostat could also cause your car not to have heat. If your car is running low on coolant, if there’s air in the system or if the core itself isn’t working properly, then this could be the cause of your car heater not working. Here is what to check if your heater or defroster isn't working: What is black ice and what to do if you hit it, Emergency winter supplies to keep in your car, Why winter tires are important even when it’s not snowy, Prepping Your Car For Winter Cold, Rain and Snow, 21 Nissan Versa videos added to the Haynes YouTube channel, The best car videos on YouTube from Haynes. Coolant that is a dark brown color indicates that there is rust in the cooling system. That means a trickle out of your vents instead of the rush you asked for. It should have level indicators that show how full or empty it is. Thermostat. The safest way to do this is with a non-contact infrared thermometer. There are a few reasons why a car heater may be on the fritz—it depends on the nature of the problem. Keep topped up to the max level with the engine running. 2. If the heating not working in car, the first cause is must be lack of gas. Step 5 - Inspect heater system vacuum lines especially to the heater control valve. The blower is what circulates the heat through the core and then warms the car and passengers. Air enters a large duct at the front of the car, placed so that when the car is moving the entry point is in a high-pressure area and air is forced in. Once the engine is up to temperature the thermostat opens and the coolant flows around the whole system. It's possible, too, that the motor has been clogged up with debris to the point that it cannot work. 2. How much money can I get for my dead car? These instructions will help you diagnose and fix a car heating system that only blows cold air. A car’s cabin will heat up as the engine’s coolant heats up. There are many issues you may notice related to the system’s temperature and functionality. Read on to see what causes a car heater to blow cold air. Blower still does not work. If you determine that hot antifreeze flows through the heater core, there may be debris in the heater box. Blower still does not work. 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. The engine cooling system of the vehicle is directly linked to the heating system. If it receives power, check if the blower motor is burned out. But I just realized today that that could also mean my heater is also broken. Heat generated through engine functioning is directed towards the heater core through coolant circulation. A thermostat prevents the coolant from flowing until the motor gets warm enough. The fan works but it's not blowing any hot air, only cold air. 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). Is There a Cheaper Alternative to Air Conditioning? Pit had the same issue. By using Lifewire, you accept our, 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, Using a Space Heater as an Electric Car Heater. You need to make certain there isn't another reason, however, especially since replacing the core is a complex and time-consuming affair. Now start the engine without replacing the cap and idle for a few minutes. As far as the heater not heating up fast in the car, either the engine coolant is not hot enough yet to heat up the car or there is an issue with the heating system or cooling system in the vehicle. Follow these steps to fix the problem. 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