The car’s cooling and heating system makes your long journeys more pleasant in unpredictable weather. Repair and maintenance of this system are essential to maintain normal temperature inside the cabin. A cooling system preserves the car’s heating and freezing functions. It includes many components to perform this job perfectly. And the heater core is the main component of a cooling and heating system. If the heater core fails, you might have to face some dilemmas. An in-depth study of signs of a faulty heater core can help you understand its proper functions.
Let’s discuss the first signs of a broken heater core after understanding the heater core and the cause of its failure.
Heater Core and Failure Explanation
A heater core is a radiator-like device used to heat a vehicle’s cabin. The radiator is the equipment located under your car’s hood. The radiator and the heater core are connected. Coolant flows through the heater core. When the liquid is warmed, the heater core provides heat that radiates through your vehicle’s heater. Therefore, it also plays an important role in your car’s air conditioning system. The function of the heater core is to share the work with the air conditioning compressor to reach the temperature you set. It can also defog your windshield and dehumidify the cabin air.
The cause of heater core failure is roughly the same as what causes the radiator under the car’s hood to fail before the manufacturer’s estimate: it’s the lack of maintenance. The coolant flowing through your radiator will pass through the heater core. Skipping a few radiator maintenance schedules will lead to an increase in the size and quantity of rust particles and other debris, which will clog the heater core passages. Even if your radiator can survive with minimal maintenance, the heater core, with narrower passages, will clog up sooner than the radiator and fail earlier than expected.
5 Major Signs of a Bad Heater Core to Know Right Now!
The heater core is located just below the steering system and the dashboard. Its components such as cables, hoses, the coolant reservoir, and the exhaust are located on all sides of the dashboard. To summarize the previous part simply, the heater core is the main component that controls the internal heating and cooling functions to normalize the cabin atmosphere. The heater core regulates the coolant in a cooling system to transport hot air to the cabin and also prevent overheating. Furthermore, the coolant reduces the temperature that leads to fogging on the windows.
Let’s review the symptoms of a bad heater core:
1. Pungent Smell in the Car
A strange smell in your car is one of the main signs of a malfunctioning heater core. If you notice an acrid smell when using a cooling or heating system, it’s time for proper repair. This strange smell is a sign of a coolant leak. The coolant might also have spilled out of the coolant reservoir. So, repair the entire system as soon as possible.
2. Coolant Leak
Another important sign of a damaged heater core is a coolant leak inside and outside the car. It’s quite easy to suspect a coolant leak in the car on the passenger side or a coolant spill on the ground. This happens when the system is cooler than usual. The front seats of the cabin might be damp in case of a leak.
3. Foggy Windows
Foggy windows are also one of the main signs of a malfunctioning heater core. If your car’s windows fog up from the inside, it’s certain that your car is facing heater core problems. This indicates that radiator fluid is leaking inside the car cabin, making it foggy. The foggy window function is also known as window condensation. It might be wise to follow maintenance expert advice for proper preservation of the car’s cooling system.
4. Cooling System Failure
If your cooling or heating system is not working properly, it’s time to have it maintained or repaired. A lack of heat or warmth inside the cabin is evidence that the cooling system is faulty.
5. Insufficient or No Heat
One of the most visible signs is the absence of hot air coming from the vehicle’s vents when the heater is on. This can indicate a clogged or blocked heater core that is not allowing hot coolant to flow through it.
A heater that isn’t doing its job is a major red flag, but the core isn’t always the problem. Other faulty components like a fuse, the cabin air filter, and the fan or vent flaps can also be the cause.
Furthermore, a faulty heater core can produce hissing or gurgling sounds when the heater or defroster settings are activated. These sounds usually indicate trapped air in the cooling system or coolant flow issues.
It’s best to rule out these issues first, as accessing the heater core is not an easy task that requires at least some mechanical skills. This is something to remember the next time you are tempted to skip radiator maintenance.
In Conclusion
That’s all! Here are some signs of a malfunctioning heater core that required repair and maintenance. If you suspect a problem with your vehicle’s heater core, it is advisable to have it inspected and repaired by a qualified mechanic or automotive technician. They can accurately diagnose the problem and recommend the appropriate course of action.
Read this article several times to know how to tell if the heater core is faulty. Make sure to have your car repaired and maintained on time to avoid these problems.