If you drive in cold weather, your car's heater is invaluable. Unfortunately, like all components and systems, it can fail for a number of reasons. In order to appreciate why problems develop, it's worth reviewing how your vehicle's heater works. That requires taking a look at the cooling system.
Basics Of Your Vehicle's Cooling System
Your engine creates enormous heat during operation. If this heat were allowed to remain near the engine, it would destroy the assembly. Your vehicle's cooling system addresses this problem. Coolant flows through a network of hoses to your engine in order to absorb excess heat. It then travels to your radiator, where the heat is allowed to dissipate into the air. The coolant, cool again, flows back to the engine to absorb more heat.
Your radiator is located near the front of your car. Another component called the heater core functions like a tiny radiator near the back. It is located in the dashboard. Hot coolant flows to the heater core where a small fan operates. If the vents in your vehicle's cabin are open, the fan blows heated air from the hot coolant through them.
Given the process described above, it should now be clear that problems affecting your car's heater are usually due to issues within the cooling system. That's where we'll begin troubleshooting.
Check The Coolant Level
Because your heater core operates based on the coolant that travels through it, an insufficient fluid level will impair its function. The heat that is blown through your vents originates within your engine. The coolant arrives at your heater core after absorbing this heat.
Your vehicle should have a separate, clear coolant reservoir through which you can see the fluid level. There should be two markers on the reservoir. One of these markers identifies where the fluid should be when it is heated (i.e. when your engine is running). The other marker identifies the appropriate level when the fluid is cold. If the level is low, remove the radiator cap and add more. But be aware the low level may imply a leak somewhere in the system.
Check The Control Valve
The flow of coolant to your car's heater core is controlled by a component called the heater control valve. If you're using your vehicle's air conditioner, the valve will remain closed. In this position, coolant will not enter the heater core and thus, heat will not enter your car's cabin. Otherwise, the valve remains open.
If the heater control valve malfunctions and remains closed when it should stay open, it will prevent coolant from entering the heater core. Because the fluid cannot gain entry, there is no heat that can be blown through the vents into the cabin of your car.
Check The Blower Motor
The next component to inspect is the blower motor. This is the small fan that blows across the heater core, pushing hot air through your vents. If it fails, it cannot blow heated air into the cabin, regardless of whether coolant has entered the heater core. Problems that occur with the blower motor can include accumulated debris that jams the system, a blown fuse, or a failing switch. All circumstances lead to the same result: the hot air cannot be blown through the vents.
Driving in cold climates without heat can be a miserable experience. But it's important to identify the reason your heater is unable to produce warm air. If the problem is specific to the heater core (i.e. malfunctioning control valve or failing blower motor), repairs can wait. On the other hand, if you discover a possible coolant leak, have a mechanic find and fix the problem as soon as possible. Coolant leaks can worsen and cause your engine to overheat. This can lead to expensive damage that is entirely avoidable.
The heater core is rarely discussed. In fact, millions of drivers are unaware it exists. But if it fails, it can have far-reaching impacts, especially in cold weather.
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