The stove in the car does not work well: reasons for what to do
Content
There are many reasons why cold air is blowing from the stove. Still, it is worth focusing as much as possible on several of the most obvious factors that lead to the cessation of the supply of hot air to the passenger compartment when the engine is running.
There are many reasons why cold air is blowing from the stove. Still, it is worth focusing as much as possible on several of the most obvious factors that lead to the cessation of the supply of hot air to the passenger compartment when the engine is running.
What is a stove for?
The stove in the car performs the same function as heating appliances in residential premises - providing heat for the driver and passengers. Also, the heating of the cabin, created by the stove, counteracts the fogging of windows, the freezing of locks, and all kinds of interior switches.
The saloon stove is connected to the engine cooling system. The engine is cooled by a special liquid - antifreeze, which takes heat from the internal combustion engine, becomes hot, and then cools in the radiator.
The coolant circulation is divided into two circles - small and large. Circulating in a small circle, the refrigerant enters the cavity enveloping the cylinder block, the so-called shirt, and cools the cylinders with pistons. When the coolant heats up to 82 degrees, a special valve (thermostat) gradually opens, and antifreeze flows from the cylinder block, further along the line leading to the cooling radiator. Thus, the movement of antifreeze begins in a large circle. Also, when the engine is running, hot liquid within a small circle, through the inlet and outlet pipes, constantly circulates through the stove radiator.
Heating in the car
If the driver turns on the stove, he will thereby start the fan, which will begin to blow on the stove radiator heated by the hot coolant. Thus, the air blown by the fan will pass through the radiator cells and heat up, and then, already heated, will enter the car interior through the air channel. Accordingly, you will not receive heat until the machine has been running for a couple of minutes. After all, as the engine heats up, the coolant also heats up.
Why is it blowing cold air
In winter, the failure of the cabin heater will be, to put it mildly, an unpleasant surprise for the driver. There are several main points due to which the stove stops heating.
Low amount of antifreeze in the cooling system
The cabin heater uses the heat from the coolant circulating around and inside the engine. A low coolant level is often associated with depressurization of a closed circuit and coolant leakage. Such a problem entails airing the cooling system, which disrupts the circulation of the refrigerant. In this case, the stove will stop blowing out heat, the engine will start to overheat.
This should only be done with a cold engine. It is necessary to fill in the coolant in the expansion tank. This transparent tank, located near the radiator, has rubber hoses coming out of it.
Not enough antifreeze in the car
The expansion tanks of most modern cars have risks - “Max” and “Min”. If the amount of refrigerant is below the minimum mark, then there is a shortage of refrigerant in the system. Therefore, it is necessary to fill the coolant to the highest level.
If the fluid level is within normal limits, there are no leaks and air, and the oven still does not heat, you should continue to look for other causes that may affect the heating system.
Thermostat is stuck
The thermostat is one of the main components that you should pay attention to if the stove in the car does not heat well. This valve regulates the circulation of coolant through a closed cooling system. The temperature indicator on the dashboard will help you know if the thermostat is working properly. If your car's engine has been running for about ten minutes, the temperature gauge should indicate that the temperature has risen from "cold" to "hot". Ideally, the arrow should be somewhere in the middle. If these readings are not fixed on the temperature gauge, the thermostat may have failed.
There are two types of thermostat malfunction: valve jamming in the closed or open position. If the thermostat is stuck in the open position, the time for the coolant to warm up to normal temperature will increase, engine wear will increase, and the stove will work with a delay of about 10 minutes.
With the thermostat constantly closed, the opposite effect will occur for the motor - a strong overheating of the internal combustion engine, since the hot liquid will not be able to go beyond the small circle to get into the radiator and cool. For a stove, a closed valve also means no heating, because the valve will not let hot coolant into the heater circuit.
Thermostat is stuck
Pump malfunction
The pump is a centrifugal pump that drives antifreeze through the cooling system. If this unit stops working, the flow of fluid through hoses, pipes and channels will stop. Stopping the circulation of coolant through the cooling system will cause the engine to overheat. Also, the coolant will not be able to transfer heat to the stove radiator, and the heater fan will blow out exceptionally cold air.
A partial malfunction of the pump can be identified by noisy or howling sounds during its operation. Such signs are often associated with severe bearing wear due to long-term operation of the assembly. In addition, over time, the impeller blades may wear out, which will make it impossible to maintain normal circulation, with all the ensuing consequences for the motor and stove.
machine heating pump
There are only two ways to solve this problem: repair the pump, subject to a partial breakdown, or install a new part. As practice shows, the second option is more expedient. Even if the pump is not completely killed, repair will not always help to prolong its service life for a long time. Therefore, it is easier and more reliable to buy and install a new pump.
Other reasons why the stove does not heat well
In addition to the main reasons associated with problems in the cooling system, violations can occur in one of the stove nodes. So, the poor performance of the stove occurs for a number of the following reasons:
- Clogged or damaged stove radiator. Over time, debris clogs the cells of the heat exchanger and it will poorly heat the air passing through it. Also, due to deposits of rust or scale, clogging inside the radiator is possible, resulting in a violation of the coolant circulation. In addition, long-term operation or mechanical damage can compromise the integrity of the radiator housing. It will simply start to flow and completely stop performing its functions. Therefore, if it becomes clogged, be sure to clean this element or replace the damaged part.
- Fan failure. The stove fan blows over the radiator when hot antifreeze passes through it. Further, the flow of air heated from antifreeze enters the passenger compartment through the air duct. Accordingly, a faulty fan will cause the absence of hot air and interior heating. However, during movement, with such a breakdown, the stove can still blow out hot air, since the role of a fan can somehow be performed by a stream of air coming from outside. Of course, if the car is stopped, the stove will immediately stop blowing out heat.
- Clogged air filter. When a stream of hot air flies into the cabin, a cabin filter stands in its way, which performs the function of cleaning the air from harmful external pollutants. A clogged filter begins to pass air poorly, and the stove will not heat well.
- Shutter malfunction. The heater air duct is equipped with a damper, with which you can adjust the amount of hot air flowing into the passenger compartment. That is, the more the hatch is open, the more heat goes into the cabin, and vice versa. This curtain is connected by a cable to a handle or a stove control key. Also, the curtain can work through a servo. Sagging of the cable or breakage of the servo drive will make it impossible to control the curtain normally and set the optimum temperature in the cabin.
