In the colder months, our car heaters are a godsend. The last thing you'd want on a frosty winter morning is to find that your car heater is having issues, or not working at all. Aside from keeping us warm, they're also pretty useful for demisting and defrosting windscreens.
At CarFix Garage Car Mechanic in London , we pride ourselves on going above and beyond for the customer. We have a fantastic reputation. We’re known for being one of the friendliest garages in London who deliver the highest standard of customer service. That’s why London local drivers are so quick to recommend our diagnostic checks.
CarFix Garage Auto Repairs, your trusted partner for comprehensive car care solutions.
At CarFix Garage, we understand the importance of your vehicle’s performance and safety, which is why we’re committed to providing top-notch repair services tailored to meet your needs.
We are expert in diagnosing and resolving mechanical, electrical, and technical problems in all types of vehicles, regardless of make or model.
Our team of skilled technicians is equipped with the expertise and knowledge to handle all types of car repairs efficiently and effectively. From routine maintenance tasks like oil changes and tire rotations to complex engine diagnostics and electrical system repairs, we’ve got you covered.
Besides, we also perform additional checks on related car components to ensure optimum road safety.
How does a car heater work on my car?
Most car heaters use coolant to warm up the interior of the vehicle. Here’s how it works:
- The vehicle engine heats the coolant to a very high temperature.
- The coolant is pushed through the heater core (which acts like a mini-radiator).
- Air is pushed through the heater core, resulting in hot air blowing into the car.
Often when you first turn the heating on, you’ll notice the air feels cold for a few minutes – this is because the engine needs a little time to warm up and heat the coolant.
Few reasons why your car heater isn't working properly.
If the heating system isn’t working at all (no hot or cold air is being blown into the car), this is likely due to a faulty blower motor or an issue stopping power from reaching the blower motor, but that's not the only possible reason.
In general, car heater issues can be caused by the following:
- Low antifreeze
If your antifreeze has gotten too low, it means there won’t be enough hot liquid in the heater core, resulting in cold air. You should top up the coolant to the appropriate level and then check to see if the heating is working again.
- Damaged wiring
All in all a damaged wire wouldn’t be the worst outcome as it’s a fairly simple fix, but if your car heater is unresponsive then it’s possible that a short-circuited wire or blown fuse is the culprit.
- Faulty heater fan
It’s possible that your car heater is working, but only until the hot liquid reaches the heater core. If the heater fan itself is broken, then it won’t be able to blow heat into the interior of the car. This could be down to a mechanical failure or electrical problem.
- A faulty or damaged thermostat
One of the most common reasons for car heaters not working, a faulty or damaged thermostat could actually lead to worse problems with your car. For example, if the thermostat corrodes or ages enough, it can get stuck closed meaning there’s no coolant reaching the radiator. With no coolant in the radiator, your engine will overheat, causing potentially critical damage.
Why is my car heater blowing out cold air when the engine is on?
If you’re only getting cool air when your heating is on, it could indicate a problem.
First things first, make sure you’ve set the system to hot. And let the engine run for a few minutes to give it time to heat up the coolant.
If you’re still getting cool air, then there are a few reasons this might be happening. The most common reasons are:
- Your engine coolant is low.
- There’s a fault with the thermostat.
How to fix a car heater
The first thing to do if you’re having issues with your car heater is to check your engine coolant. Make sure to do this when your engine has cooled down to avoid being burned.
Low engine coolant can be a sign of a leak or other issue in the system so you should also get your vehicle checked by a professional to make sure there are no further problems.
If there is enough engine coolant but the heating still isn’t working, you’ll need to take your car to a garage so an experienced mechanic can diagnose and fix the issue.
How much does it cost to fix a car heater?
The costs involved in fixing a car heater can depend on the problem and what needs replaced or mended.
A full replacement of your heater core can be expensive due to the labour involved, costing upwards of £1,000 for parts and labour.
How does the heater in an electric car work?
Unlike internal combustion engine vehicles, the motor for electric vehicles doesn’t create heat as a by-product of running. This means EVs need another way to heat up the car.
Most modern EVs use a heat pump, which takes thermal energy from outside air and compresses it before releasing the heat inside.
An EV’s heating system does rely on power from the traction battery, which used to result in the range of electric cars being much shorter during winter. But with modern EVs, the heat pumps are very efficient so this is no longer an issue.
Plus, one of the benefits of driving an EV during winter is preconditioning – this means you can pre-heat or pre-cool your car before you start your journey.
This handy feature means you can warm up and defrost your car in the morning while it’s still charging, so it’s ready for you when you want to drive it and there’s no impact on the battery charge.
Will I fail my MOT if the car heater is not working?
While a broken car heater is far from ideal, it won't cause you to fail your MOT. This is because it's not one of the main checks done as part of the test.
Hence, stop searching for ‘heating repair near me’ and visit us today at Unit 4, 30-100 Colindeep Ln, London, NW9 6HB.
CarFix Garage are the leading experts in automotive parts repair including tyres, MOT , car servicing, collision repair and more. To find out more about car heating repair in London NW, contact us online here or call us directly on 020 8200 8181
We specialise in bumper repairs, car dents and scratch repairs. We've repaired over 30,000 cars. Fast repairs and conveniently with CarFix Garage in London. Get a quote!
