What does heater core do

In either case, you should stop as soon as is safely possible and switch off the engine to avoid causing permanent damage from overheating. The heater core is a mostly maintenance free part of the car, but you should be sure to check the hoses that carry the coolant to it periodically; about every 6, miles or six months. When flushing the coolant every 30, miles or two years for most cars , be sure to run the engine with the heater on to flush new antifreeze into the heater core.

Changing the core itself, on the rare occasion that it begins to leak, typically requires removing the dashboard and is very labor intensive, but your Haynes manual has step by step details. Go to front page. Search results Search Haynes. Year Year Make Make. Model Model. Now you can see the primary function of a heater core is to keep the interior of a vehicle warm. The components of the heater core include a blower motor through which warm air is blown to the cabin.

It also contains a tubing or heater hoses that carry the hot coolant. The system also features a blower that pushes the heat through and a control valve that controls the flow of heat. We can also find the HVAC blend door in the heater core and other cooling system components like the radiator, thermostat, etc.

Read more: Things you need to know about a drive belt. The working of a heater core is less complex and can be easily understood as it works with few functional components. Thus, during the cooling process, the hot coolant goes the extra mile to produce warmness to the vehicle interior. As soon as the engine is warmed up, the temperature of the coolant is controlled by the thermostat. The flow of the warm air can also be controlled or block with a door, which directs all the incoming air around the heater core.

This causes the system not to get heated or re-heated when the air conditioning compressor is working. In some engine designs, the system allows drivers to control the valve or door directly, usually by means of a lever or a rotary knob. Complicated systems use a combination of thermistors and electromechanical actuators to control the valve or doors. This helps to deliver air at a precise temperature selected by the user. Read more: Everything you need to know about timing belt or chain.

Below are the signs or symptoms of the bad and failing heater core in internal combustion engines:. One common sign of bad heater core is when the heater completely stops working, which is caused by a clog in the cooling system. If you smell the sweet smell on the outside of your vehicle, check to see if you have a leak going on under your car.

There could be a slight chance that your blower motor has failed. Still get it checked by the professionals to be sure. You may not be able to find the leak due to the coolant getting out when the car system is cold and leaks from your cabin.

You want to make sure to get your car looked at right away as this chemical, ethylene glycol, leaking is harmful to your health. If you are driving and this happens, make sure to roll down your windows and to get it repaired the same day.