Your car, truck, or utility vehicle’s heater will not work without a functioning heater core. The heater core is located underneath the dashboard on the passenger side of your vehicle. The hot engine coolant circulates through the heater core tubes before it’s put back in the radiator. When you flip on your vehicle’s heater, the air blows over the tubes to warm up. Buellton Garage lists the following symptoms of heater core issues.
The Air Isn’t That Hot
If the air blowing out of the vents is not that hot, it’s possible that the heater core is leaking and there is no hot engine coolant to warm the air. You can expect to get about 10 years out of your vehicle’s original heater core. If it springs a leak or gets clogged, you will need to replace it.
The Windows Keep Fogging
One thing that happens frequently with malfunctioning heater cores is the windows get foggy. This is because the air blowing through the vents is has wet engine coolant in it and, once it meets the dry air in the cabin, it will create the perfect condition to generate fog. Unfortunately, the windows will continue to be fogged because the defroster relies on the heater core, as well, and it will be unable to clear the fog from the windows.
You Can Smell the Coolant
In fact, if the heater core is leaking coolant, you will be able to smell it. Engine coolant has a sweet and musty smell to it. As the air filled with the coolant flows through the vents, the inside of your vehicle cabin will fill with this scent. This scent mimics that of maple syrup or candy. If the odor coming out of your vents is incredibly musty, this is a sign you have a mildew problem.
You’ve Got a Wet Floorboard
We mentioned the location of the heater core above. Unfortunately, if it is leaking, you will end up with a wet floorboard in this location. In fact, this is a definite sign that it’s time to replace the heater core in your car, truck, utility vehicle, or fleet vehicle.
Your Car Is Overheating
Finally, your engine will overheat because it is losing precious coolant out of the heater core. As you know, driving your automobile when it is overheating can damage the engine beyond repair. As such, it’s important to replace the heater core as soon as possible.
Buellton Garage in Buellton, CA, can do this for you. Call us today to set up an appointment.
