Taking Care Of Your Heating System
At this time of year, it’s hard to remember the blistering temperatures we experienced in the summer, isn’t it? While no one enjoyed climbing into an oven to make a journey, there was at least no additional pre-driving maintenance required to get on the road.
In the Winter, you need to allow ten extra minutes to defrost the car, clear the windows and make it so that you are not driving in an ice box. For that reason, it’s really important you ensure your car’s heating system is functioning as best it can. Some can be maintained at home and if done so, you can potentially avoid more costly professional repair costs.
Here are our most common issues for a car’s heating system.
Faulty Thermostat
The thermostat’s main function is to control the circulation of coolant in the engine. When the engine is on, the thermostat stops the coolant circulation so that the car can heat up quickly. Once the car has reached the temperature you have set, the coolant will then be released to regulate it. If the thermostat isn’t working as it should, the coolant will continue to flow through the system, making the heating take much longer to be pushed through the vehicle.
Failing Heater Core
If the heater core starts to fail, the prime suspect is usually a leak. If it’s leaking, the heater core will never be able to provide sufficient heat. A leak also opens up to allowing coolant to leak into the vehicle’s engine. You’ll know this by seeing it dripping onto the ground. We can replace heater cores, the moment you spot a suspicious leak from your vehicle, please get in touch.
Damaged Heater Hose
The heater hose takes heated coolant to and from the heater core. And, if you guessed, if it’s broken then the core will not receive enough heat and therefore a chilly car for you.
Faulty Fan Motor
The fan motor blows air over the heater core to allow the air to flow through the ductwork of the car. If it stops working, it’s usually either a burst fuse in the fan blower circuitry or the fan itself is burnt out. Both would need to be replaced.
Not Enough Coolant
We’ve mentioned coolant a couple of times already in this blog, so it should come as no surprise to find out if the coolant is too low, there will not be enough fluid to heat the heater core.
Bear in mind that if you do not top up your coolant, it could result in a number of other issues. It’s really important that you maintain the coolant levels. We also recommend that you flush out the coolant system to prolong the heating components – and reduce the risk of future damage.
If you are clear and confident about what the issue is with your car and it’s a simple DIY repair on your heating system, then ensure it is repaired quickly to avoid more damage in the future. However, if it is a more complicated issue, do give us a call. Our years of experience within the team will be able to diagnose problems and make any necessary repairs to ensure your car stays toasty warm through the winter.