5 Symptoms Of A Clogged Heater Core

By Author: Car Services in Reading
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Is your car having trouble sending warm air in on these frigid mornings, or even worse, during the winter?

Symptoms of a blocked heater core might be present. The heater's primary duty is to circulate warm air throughout the vehicle's interior via the blower motor. The heater core gets hot coolant from the engine as soon as you switch on the heat, and the blower motor delivers air through the heater core tubes and into the car interior via the air vents.

The heated inside air may be utilised to defog or defrost the windshield as well as warm up the driver and passengers.

We'll talk about the signs of air in the heater core and what a heater core is in this post.

What Is the Function of a Heater Core?
A cooling system's heater core is a critical component. It has the appearance of a miniature vehicle radiator, with tiny grid like tubes. Warm air is sent into the vehicle interior via vents or heater ducts by the heater core. It also assists in the operation of the defroster and heater core.

For straightforward diagnosis, knowing where the heater's core is located is critical. The heater ...
... core can be found either on the passenger side or in the middle of the dashboard, behind the dashboard.

It is situated under the dash, under all the components, and is coated with housing or casing.

Symptoms of a Clogged Heater Core
A clogged or faulty heater core will show signs that the driver should be aware of so that it may be repaired as soon as possible. Check MOT status of your vehicle and have your car mechanic repair the issue before your next MOT test. You can also complete a MOT history check to see if this was a culprit in the past. Here are a few warning signs:

1. Foggy Vehicle Interior
A foggy vehicle is a frequent indicator. Do you have a problem with your car's interior fogging up for no apparent reason? I'm not talking about a little condensation on your car windows and windshield. I'm referring to a warm condensation that has engulfed all of the windows. A blown heater core is one of the most common causes of severe wetness. It's possible that the heater core blew up while you were driving. If this component fails, heated coolant will spill into the vehicle's interior. When the heated, temperature-controlled coolant escapes, it condenses into steam, causing a severe fog in the cabin and vehicle interior.

2. Sweet Smell
Do you detect a strange odour coming from the cabin? A heater can leak without fogging up the car windows and windscreen. However, the vents will emit a fresh melon scent. The pleasant odour comes from the car's coolant, indicating a coolant leak into the cabin. If you notice a pleasant odour outside the vehicle, have a peek below it to check how much coolant has been lost.

3. Coolant Loss
If you observe a lot of coolant loss and can't figure out where it's going, your heater core may be leaking. Unfortunately, if you can't see where the coolant is leaking, it's most likely trickling into the cabin from the heater core. If this happens when the system is cold, it will generate a pool in the cabin instead of fog. Look around the passenger side floor if you suspect a faulty heater core. Consider examining the heater core if the floor mat is damp and has a good odour.

4. Cold Passenger Compartment
In addition to indicating a faulty heater core, it can also signal problems with other system components. It might be a sign of a malfunctioning blower motor or other components that are less difficult to repair than the heater core itself. In any event, if you're experiencing a lack of heat, it's safe to assume that the heater core is to blame and that it has to be replaced. If the core has a puncture or hole, the heated air inside the heater will evaporate before reaching the car's heater ducts. The chilly air from the evaporation will keep the passenger compartment cool. The puncture will deliver lukewarm, pleasantly heated, or even frigid air into the automobile cabin, depending on the degree of the puncture.

5. The Engine is Hot, but the Cabin is Cold
Is your engine overheated, and the cabin is freezing? If that's the case, you'll need to figure out what's wrong with the heater core. Other system components, don't forget, might contribute to engine overheating. Check for a coolant leak inside the cooling system if the heater ducts cease putting warm air in and the engine is running hot. The engine components might be severely damaged by overheating. However, do not allow overheating [no matter how little] to persist. Find the source of the problem and solve it as quickly as possible.

Always keep an eye on your instrument cluster as you go. If you notice your temperature gauge approaching the danger zone, pull over to a safe location. Before you hit the road, figure out what's wrong and repair it. Call your mechanic or tow the car to a repair garage if you can't fix it.

'Does heater core influence ac as it might cause overheating?' you might wonder. No, the heater core will not stop the air conditioner from blowing cold air.

Check MOT history with car servicing and repair garage to ensure you have plenty of time to have this issue fixed. The reason for this is because if the visibility of a driver is not clear, this could result in a MOT test failure.