No, you will not get hot air blowing through your vents if the heater core is leaking. This is because the heater core relies on the hot engine coolant that flows through it to warm the air. If it leaks the engine coolant out, the air flowing into your passenger cabin will be cold. This is just one sign that your heater core is leaking. Auto Service Kingston lists the other signs below.
Foggy Windows
Oftentimes, a leaking or faulty heater core will fog up your windows even though it is also responsible for warming the air that blows through your defroster. When the heater core is leaking, the air becomes moist because it is filled with engine coolant. When this moisture is introduced into your cabin, all of your windows will fog up even if you try to defrost them using the defroster.
Sweet Odors
Pay attention to any odors you detect when you turn on the heater, especially if your windows fogged up. If the heater core is leaking coolant, you will be able to smell the coolant in the air that blows through the vents. This is a sweet odor that is also a bit musty. Some people describe the odor as fruity or something that smells like maple syrup. If the odor that you detect is only musty, it’s possible that you have mildew growing in your car’s ventilation system that needs to be cleaned out.
Low Coolant
Because the engine coolant flows through the heater core before it is returned to the radiator, your coolant levels will be reduced by a leaking heater core. This can create the unique situation of having cold air blowing through the vents while your engine overheats. This is not only frustrating, but it can also make driving your automobile dangerous. Driving an overheating automobile can cause serious damage, including damage to the engine block. It’s important that you have any overheating situation addressed immediately.
Wet Floorboard
One clue that your engine is overheating because of a leaking heater core is a wet floorboard on the passenger side of your automobile. The heater core can be found underneath the dashboard on, you guessed it, the passenger side. If the heater core is leaking, you will end up with engine coolant on the floor underneath the heater core.
Don’t worry. Auto Service Kingston in Kingston, ON, can help. Schedule a service appointment with us today if you think your heater core is leaking.