Five Symptoms That Your Heater Core Is Leaking

 

The cooling system of a car includes the heater core. It has the appearance and functionality of a smaller radiator and radiates heat into the cabin by moving coolant via the tiny tubes. It is connected to the air conditioning system, which is built on similar principles, and is in charge of enabling the defroster to operate correctly.

The antifreeze/coolant in an automobile engine absorbs heat as it warms up and circulates around the engine and through the radiator to cool it below the boiling point. The thermostat regulates the temperature of the entire system.

Look for car garages in Reading online and book an appointment if the heating system in your car blows warm air on the driver's side while blowing cold air on the passenger side. The defroster and the passenger area are heated by a car's heater core. Common symptoms of a defective heater core include no heat, frequent coolant leaks, and an overheating engine.

When the heat is on in your vehicle, heated air is blown over the heater core and into the cabin. When the heat is on, certain vehicles feature a heater valve that feeds coolant through the heater core; when the heat is off, the heater core is bypassed. In other cars, the amount of air that passes over the heater core determines the temperature of the air inside the air blend box.

It is advised to check MOT status and have this problem addressed in advance to prevent a potential MOT test failure if the heating system in your car is not effectively defrosting your windscreen. This might qualify as a failure because the driver's vision is being affected, which increases the risk of a serious crash.

With dual zone climate control systems, the driver and front-seat passenger can independently manage the cabin's temperature thanks to a split heater core. Some large SUVs and high-end luxury vehicles have an additional heater core that enables the rear passengers to control their own temperature.

The surfaces inside the cooling system, especially the heater core, are protected from corrosion-by-corrosion inhibitors included in coolant/antifreeze. The cooling system may get corroded, contaminated, and even begin to leak if the corrosion inhibitors run out. The most frequent reason for mechanical failure, coolant/antifreeze leaking through the heater core indicates that the system's overall coolant level is low, and the engine is at risk of overheating. This is one of the most frequent causes of a failed MOT test when you check MOT history of a vehicle.

Without coolant, a problem might not even be indicated by a warning light or temperature gauge because they can no longer measure the temperature of the now-empty water passageways. So it's crucial to be aware of the symptoms of a leaky heater core and book an appointment with a mechanic to have this fixed by searching online for garages in Reading.

The following 5 symptoms point to a bad heater core:

1.     Your Car Starts to Smell Sweet - If your car starts to smell sweet, you can notice a sweet scent coming from your vents. This aroma, which comes from the radiator fluid, is clear proof that coolant is leaking into your car. Determine how much coolant has leaked into the ground by looking below your vehicle. It's time to do so if you also detect this enticing odour emanating from the outside of your car.

2.     Car Windows That Are Foggy - The interior of your car suddenly fogging up without reason is a very typical sign of a heater core problem. It's critical to keep in mind that we're looking for warm, moist condensation that covers every pane, not just a thin film of mist on the windscreens edge. Coolant from the engine leaks into the car's interior, where the cooler air causes the warm coolant to condense as steam.

3.      Cold Air from Your Car Is Filtering into The Cabin - All that warm air may leave the heater core too quickly to reach you at the other end of the heater ducts if a hole or puncture forms there. You may experience pleasantly warm, tepid, or downright frigid air escaping from your heater, depending on the size of the puncture.

4.      Your Car Is Swallowing Up Coolant - If your car suddenly requires more coolant than usual and you are unsure of the cause, it may have a blown heater core. When the system is cold, coolant may seep into your cabin if the leak is difficult to locate, generating a puddle rather than fog. See if the floor on the passenger side is damp.

5.      Your Cars Cabin Is Cold but The Engine Is Hot - The overheating of your car's engine is highly significant. Your car's cabin is cold, but the engine is hot. Your car's primary parts will begin to wear out and malfunction as soon as they reach an excessive temperature. If your car has overheated or is still overheating, you should inspect the condition of the heater core, but keep in mind that there are likely many other components of the car that are also to blame. Investigate whether your vehicle has a coolant leak or another problem if your heater stops producing heat, but your engine still looks warm.

The heater core of the vehicle requires little to no maintenance, but you should be certain to inspect the hoses carrying the coolant to it on a regular basis, roughly every 6,000 miles or six months. Making ensuring your coolant does have enough corrosion inhibitors active to safeguard the system means changing your coolant/antifreeze as instructed by the manufacturer of your car. Additionally, preventing an emergency can be accomplished by promptly fixing any leaks and checking hoses for indications of internal damage.