As much as we hate to accept it, summer is over and cold days are ahead. To keep yourself warm as you drive this fall and winter, you’ll need a car heater that works. At Redman’s Automotive, we handle all kinds of auto repair, from major issues to routine maintenance. You probably don’t want to have to buy a new car right now, so you’re doing whatever you can to keep your car on the road. Because you probably haven’t used your heater in a while, you want to check that it still works.
These are some signs that your heater is in need of auto repair.
The heater blows cold air.
This one is a dead giveaway. It’s the opposite of what your heater is supposed to do. Your car’s heater relies on its heater core to transfer heat into the cabin and warm you up. A punctured or damaged heater core can prevent heat transfer. Your heater core can also be clogged with rust or debris. If you have a damaged heater core, you can sometimes refurbish it, but you might have to replace it.
The windshield and windows fog up.
If your car’s cabin fogs up after it warms up, that is another sign that there is something wrong with your heater core. When coolant runs through a bad heater core, it stays cold. Cold air entering your heated cabin condenses and makes your windows fog up.
You can smell coolant.
Coolant can have either a fruity or bitter smell. If an unusual aroma wafts through your heater, that’s a signal that you are leaking coolant. A leaky radiator can prevent coolant from reaching your heater, which isn’t good, but it can also cause serious damage to your engine, which is much worse.
Your car overheats.
You want your car to be warm, but not that warm! If the radiator core is blocked, it can overheat your engine. If that happens, you risk your car breaking down while you’re driving. You never want to get stranded on the side of the road, but especially not when it’s freezing out!
Auto Repair and Tune-Ups at Redmans
Bring your car to Redman’s Automotive for routine maintenance and all your auto repair needs. Whether your car heater just needs a tune-up or a part replaced, our team will get it back in working order so you can stay warm while you drive.
