Car heaters are very important, especially during cold months. You can fix common car heater problems yourself. This is important in that you will save money and you will not be stranded due to a car heater problem that has a simple solution. If the car heater is only blowing cold air, the most probable cause of the problem is a faulty heater core. To remedy the problem, check the coolant. The coolant is responsible for warming the heater core and this means if it is low, there will not be sufficient warmth to facilitate the transfer of heat to the passenger compartment. There is a gauge indicating the coolant level on the instruments panel, but you should still check the coolant level because it may be faulty, especially when it is cold outside.
If the coolant is full and you are still having car heater problems, run the engine and check the temperature of the two heater hoses. If only one of the hoses is hot, this is an indication that some air is trapped inside the heater core or there is blockage in the core. Use a coolant funnel to purge the air from the system. To unblock the heater core, remove the hoses and use a normal garden hose to flush out the obstruction. If neither of the heater hoses is hot, this is an indication that the heater control valve is malfunctioning. The major cause for this is a broken vacuum line. Replace the broken line.
Problems with vacuum feeds are very common car heater problems. In most modern cars, heater systems are based on engine vacuum. This vacuum is used in the actuation of the servos so that they can move the heater plenum’s temperature adjustment doors. To diagnose this problem, use a vacuum test gauge on one of the vacuum feed lines. To determine whether you have this problem, you can also run the engine and touch the two hoses. For a properly functioning system, the temperature in the two hoses should be the same. If there is no vacuum, present, inspect all vacuum lines and repair the faulty ones. The problem can be because of a leak and you can tell if this is the problem if you hear a hissing noise. This can be remedied by using a sealant.
Another of the common car heater problems is indicator problems. If the indicator on the instrument panel is saying one thing and the heater is saying the other, the problem could be a faulty instrument or a faulty connection. This problem is best solved by taking the vehicle to a mechanic. If the heater control valve is not warm and the engine is running, this is an indication that it is stuck. To remedy this problem, remove the valve and try to unblock it and if this does not work, replace it. Whenever you are handling car heater problems, you should note that some of the components could get very hot. You should therefore use gloves and whenever possible, turn the car engine off.
Car heaters are very important, especially during cold months. You can fix common car heater problems yourself. This is important in that you will save money and you will not be stranded due to a car heater problem that has a simple solution. If the car heater is only blowing cold air, the most probable cause of the problem is a faulty heater core. To remedy the problem, check the coolant. The coolant is responsible for warming the heater core and this means if it is low, there will not be sufficient warmth to facilitate the transfer of heat to the passenger compartment. There is a gauge indicating the coolant level on the instruments panel, but you should still check the coolant level because it may be faulty, especially when it is cold outside.
If the coolant is full and you are still having car heater problems, run the engine and check the temperature of the two heater hoses. If only one of the hoses is hot, this is an indication that some air is trapped inside the heater core or there is blockage in the core. Use a coolant funnel to purge the air from the system. To unblock the heater core, remove the hoses and use a normal garden hose to flush out the obstruction. If neither of the heater hoses is hot, this is an indication that the heater control valve is malfunctioning. The major cause for this is a broken vacuum line. Replace the broken line.
Problems with vacuum feeds are very common car heater problems. In most modern cars, heater systems are based on engine vacuum. This vacuum is used in the actuation of the servos so that they can move the heater plenum’s temperature adjustment doors. To diagnose this problem, use a vacuum test gauge on one of the vacuum feed lines. To determine whether you have this problem, you can also run the engine and touch the two hoses. For a properly functioning system, the temperature in the two hoses should be the same. If there is no vacuum, present, inspect all vacuum lines and repair the faulty ones. The problem can be because of a leak and you can tell if this is the problem if you hear a hissing noise. This can be remedied by using a sealant.
Another of the common car heater problems is indicator problems. If the indicator on the instrument panel is saying one thing and the heater is saying the other, the problem could be a faulty instrument or a faulty connection. This problem is best solved by taking the vehicle to a mechanic. If the heater control valve is not warm and the engine is running, this is an indication that it is stuck. To remedy this problem, remove the valve and try to unblock it and if this does not work, replace it. Whenever you are handling car heater problems, you should note that some of the components could get very hot. You should therefore use gloves and whenever possible, turn the car engine off.
