Top reasons why your car heater may be failing

With the onset of cooler temperatures and winter around the corner, you’re likely using your vehicle’s heater daily. If you’re like me, you probably take it for granted. After a few minutes of driving, my car begins to warm up, and I don’t think too much about it. But what if one day, it stops working? Would you know why?

Here are some common causes of vehicle heater failures:

Broken thermostat

The thermostat controls the amount of coolant that flows to the engine, which is responsible for heating the vehicle’s interior. If it’s malfunctioning, the thermostat may continuously be circulating coolant, prohibiting it from reaching optimal temperature. Replacing a faulty thermostat is typically a fast and cost-effective solution.

Low coolant level

Maintaining the recommended coolant level is important year round. However, if it’s low during the winter months, it can result in a cold car. Without the proper fluid level, a vehicle’s heater core won’t get what it needs to heat the car. Leaking pink, yellow, or green fluid is an indicator to schedule an appointment to have it checked out.

Heater core blockage

The purpose of the heater core is to transfer the heat from the engine coolant to the vehicle’s cabin. If there’s a blockage, the air may be cool. That’s why changing the coolant at the recommended intervals stated in the owner’s manual is important.

Defective blower fan

The job of a blower fan is to circulate warm air from the heater core through a vehicle’s vents. If the fan isn’t working properly, no air will likely come through the vents.

Faulty HVAC controls

From buttons, knobs, and touchscreens, there are many different controls in vehicles today. If any of these mechanisms are broken, it could prevent the fan from turning on. A blown fuse could be the culprit or it could be something more serious.