 | Jeff Lovell is the owner of Neptune Radiator and Auto Repair. He started a radiator repair shop in 1996 and has grown over the last 15 years into an automotive repair shop. With 3 ASE Certified technicians including 1 Master ASE Certified technician, they have over 40 years of combined experience. They do everything except glass and body repair. For more information please contact us at 620.231.5890 or visit us at 902 West 4th Street. |
Automotive Service & Repair
2012-10-03 11:24:27
Is it time for service?
A- The problem could be caused by a blocked heater core or a thermostat that is staying open, or the t-stat is opening prematurely.
When the heater core is clogged up, the coolant in it may be hot for a short time and then cool as the air blows through the heater core. Low coolant flow within the core can sometimes be deceiving because both heater hoses may feel hot to the touch. One way to see if this is a possibility is to check the temperature of both hoses to see if they are both hot to the touch. If the core is completely stopped up, one hose will be cold. Remember that there may be enough flow to make the hoses feel hot to the touch, but not enough flow to maintain a high enough temperature when the heater is being operated. This may result in warm air blowing through the vents only for a few seconds, as you mentioned.
However, there are several things that can cause the problem and since the heater is critical in the winter months you will definitely want to be sure that everything is in proper working order. That's why it's important for a coolant flush every 20 to 30 thousand miles or every other year, whichever occurs first. This makes it a good reason to have it serviced by a professional. While there are many maintenance projects a car owner can tackle alone, a good many others should be left with the professionals. Assuring that your heater is in working order is one of those things that having the assurance of having it serviced by a skilled technician is well worth the expense.
