Reasons Your Car Heater Needs Service

Whether you're planning an adventure-filled winter road trip, or you live in a cold climate, you want a warm and cozy ride for yourself and your passengers. Have you noticed your car heater isn't working as well as it did last year? There are many reasons why it might need service.

Heater control valves

It may sound strange, but your vehicle needs coolant to warm your car. The coolant heats as it runs through your engine, and then it runs to your heater core: a mini radiator that holds the hot coolant and blows air over it. That warm air is then directed to the cabin of your car. The heater control valves must be open for the coolant to pass through to the heater core. If your heater control valves are faulty, they need to be replaced.

Air pockets

If the heater core or the hoses connecting to it contain air pockets, these pockets can prevent the coolant from sufficiently moving to warm your vehicle. Here at the shop, our technicians can vent the air pockets and refill your cooling system if the fluid levels are low.

Open thermostat

Your engine has a thermostat that remains closed until the engine is started. After starting, this thermostat gradually opens as your engine reaches operating temperature. When it's cold outside, the thermostat will close again if the engine temperature reaches the lower operating range. If your thermostat is stuck open, the engine temperature can drop below normal while driving in cold weather. Since the heat in your cabin is dependent on heat from your engine, you'll notice your car heater is not blowing warm air.

Electrical problems

Newer cars are largely dependent on electrical components. Blown fuses, a fan motor that doesn't spin, a defective power relay, and loose wires can all contribute to problems with your car's heater. Our shop mechanics are experienced in diagnosing and repairing vehicle electrical problems.

If you need car heater repair, we invite you to bring your vehicle into our auto repair shop today.