Your vehicle relies on the heater core when you turn on the heater to warm the inside of the automobile. It also relies on the heater core for the windshield defroster. If the heater core gets clogged or starts to leak, you will have one or more of the following problems. Bring your vehicle to our shop at the first sign of trouble to avoid cold conditions inside your automobile.
Musty Odors
The heater core is the last stop in the coolant’s journey throughout the engine. The heater core allows the coolant to flow through it so the air can blow over it to heat up. Once the coolant has flowed through the core, it returns to the radiator to be cooled. Musty odors flowing out of the vents are a sign that the heater core is leaking. The odor of engine coolant is musty and sweet.
Foggy Windows
Your windows may also fog up because the leaking coolant increases the humidity of the air blowing through the vents. Unfortunately, using the defroster will not remove the fog because the coolant is sticking to the inside of the windshield, the windows, and your rear window. No matter what you do, your windows will remain foggy while you are driving.
Cold Interior
Another thing that can happen to an old heater core is it can get clogged. When this happens, the coolant stops before it flows through the core. Consequently, when the air blows over the core to heat up, there is no hot coolant in the core. This will leave cold air blowing through the vents even though you have turned on the car’s heater.
Coolant Loss
If the core is leaking, the engine is going to lose coolant once it makes its way to the core. Unfortunately, this will leave your vehicle with low levels of coolant in the engine to keep it cool. Even if you add coolant to the system through the reservoir and radiator, the coolant will leak out of the core once it reaches it. It will be continual: loss.
Overheating
Naturally, if the engine does not have enough coolant or if the coolant gets stuck behind a clogged core, your engine is going to overheat while you are driving the vehicle. This can be frustrating because the engine is too hot yet you are freezing inside.
Give us a call today if you would like to schedule an appointment for a heater core inspection before the winter weather hits. We would be happy to service your automobile.