The nights are still cool enough in Louisville that you will want to run your car, truck, or utility vehicle’s heater. The mornings are still pretty cold, as well. If your vehicle’s heater core is going bad, this will directly affect the heater’s ability to warm the inside of the passenger cabin. Louisville Automotive Shop lists the signs of a bad heater core below.
You Have Cold Instead of Hot Air
The first thing you will notice is that you have lukewarm or cold air blowing through the vents instead of the hot air you desire. This is because the heater core is either leaking or clogged. The heater core relies on hot engine coolant to warm the air before it blows it through the vents. Clogs or leaks prevent the core from having the hot coolant it needs flowing through its tubes.
You Can Smell the Engine Coolant
If the heater core is leaking, you may be able to smell the engine coolant inside of your automobile. Many people describe this as a sweet, musty smell that resembles maple syrup. If you smell something like that blowing through your vents, your heater core is leaking engine coolant.
Your Windows Are Getting Foggy
This will also cause your windows to fog up. This is because there is moist air blowing into the cabin through the vents that is meeting with the dry air in the cabin. No matter what you try, even turning on the defroster and cracking a window, you will not be able to prevent your windows from getting foggy.
Your Dashboard Is Leaking
The heater core is located on the passenger side of your automobile underneath the dashboard. Consequently, if the heater core is leaking, it will look as if your dashboard is leaking. You may notice that the floorboard on the passenger side of your automobile is wet.
Your Engine Keeps Overheating
Whether the heater core is leaking or clogged, your engine will overheat. The reason why is that there is not enough engine coolant flowing through the motor to prevent the temperature from rising beyond the normal level. A leaking heater core will lose precious engine coolant and a clogged heater core will prevent it from being diverted back into the radiator.
Your Engine Keeps Losing Coolant
Finally, if you keep having to add coolant to your engine, this could be a sign that you have a leak in the heater core. It can also be a sign that you have a cooling system leak.
Don’t take chances. If your heater core is bad, call Louisville Automotive Shop in Louisville, KY, today to schedule an appointment for your automobile.