my car heater doesnt work very good?

Question

hi, I was wondering if anyone can help me on a problem I have with my car heater. It doesnt work effectivly and most of the time it takes a really long time to actually start blowing heat. sometimes it feels like its not even blowing heat, but just cold air. I have a 1998 nissan maxima. What might be some possible problems?

Answer 1

Put your boots to it or have a service manager look at it .

Answer 2

Similar thing happened to me on my Altima. It just started happening. Everything was fine last year. What I did temporarily was to let the air circulate within the car (press the button with the little car picture) This helped a little but it will fog the car soon if you keep driving several miles so switch for a short time to normal mode. Then after few minutes back to circulating the air.
However, I really found out what the problem was. It was very simple. MY COOLANT WAS VERY LOW!! And the core was filled up with air instead of the hot coolant. Therefore the heat was getting generated from air-filled core rather than coolant-filled heater core.
Add coolant (to the radiator or overflow bottle). Caution! DO NOT OPEN RADIATOR CAP WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT!!

Answer 3

You could have several problems.

You could have a blocked heater core, which means the heater core will have to be replaced. This is also the most costly, and the least likely.

You could have a bad thermostat. If your thermostat failed open, it is allowing coolent to flow before your engine reaches temperature. Since your heater uses that same heated coolant as it's heat source, you aren't getting any heat. Replace the thermostat.

Your car is 6 years old. When was the last time you had your coolant checked/flushed etc. It might just be time to have that done. Well actually, it's past time.

At any rate, get a trained mechanic to evaluate your cooling system and tell you want's wrong with your heater.

Answer 4

The heater of a car works on hot coolant in the cooling system of the car engine. So check out the following to correct the problem.
1. Is the thermo-disc valve in the return line of coolant flow to radiator in working order? because if it is stuck in open position the car engine will take a long time to warm up & will normally run cold for a long time so the air u get inside will not be as warm as you may want it to be.So replacing this valve if its faulty will solve the problem.
2. Check out the coolant hose from the engine to the heater & the return from heater to the engine for blockage. If its blocked get the system flushed & that should solve the problem.
3. Check the fresh air vent , in case its stuck in open position the fan will suck cold air from outside there by preventing the air inside from getting warmed up & desired inside temperature may not be acheived.

Answer 5

Is the temperature gauge on dash showing hot? It may be better to let car warm up a bit first. You may also need to flush the entire system as I doubt that the heater is used all year round so deposits may have built up in heater core. You can probably flush heater as a separate unit as well to make sure it isn't blocked.
A lot depends on how far your driving as well, it may take 10 miles or more fully heat up system if temps are below freezing. A radiator blind to reduce airflow through radiator may help if its really cold, depending how far north you are

Answer 6

The same thing happen to my dad's toyota camry. I change the thermostat in the dashboard and that solves the problem. This could be that the thermostat is not functioning right( in the dashboard) or make sure the anifreeze in the radiator is not pure water; this could be it because the car's engine needs to be warm first before it gives off heat. Also you might have to get the radiator antifreeze drain out and make sure you get the whole system flush...hope this will do the trick.

Answer 7

Check to see if your water pump is leaking. Both times I had a heater stop working, the car started to overheat because a leaky seal left enough collant out that it couldn't circulate through the heater core. I imagine that if something is leaking slowly enough it could lead to no heat and take somewhat longer for the engine to overheat. Check the coolant level first.

Answer 8

same is happening with my car, and sometimes it works but not stable, it fogs the windows, what i suggest first is check if the heater motor is functioning well, second thermostat, heater core might be clogged a specialist can do the flushing and the installation of the thermostat even if it my seem easy but the installation is very delicate, good luck!

Answer 9

Could be thermostat, or you might be running low on coolant.
Your heater won't blow heat if you have no coolant and the if the thermostat sticks you'll only get cold air.

Answer 10

may have a stuck open thermostat or heater control valve there are also vacuum actuators inside the cabin that may not open and close properly 1st of all look at the temperature gage is it 180 to 200 degrees ? if not bad thermostat if so check the other two items

Answer 11

Two things to check. Pull the Hot/Cold control knob off the console and make sure the stem is not cracked. If it is, its not turning the control shaft, and you'll need to replace it. Second would be to replace the thermostat. If the car starts cold and allows the cold water to flow through the whole system because the thermostat is stuck open, you'll either never get truly hot air or it will take forever to get truly hot air.