With the onset of autumn cold weather, all motorists begin to turn on the interior heater to warm up in the car. At the same time, some face a problem when the stove does not heat well. What this may be due to, how to identify the cause of the malfunction and fix it, we will try to understand in detail further.

Where to start searching for a breakdown?

The overwhelming majority of cars on public roads are equipped with a water cooling system, which works according to a certain principle: hot coolant, which is heated by the engine, enters the small stove radiator in the cabin, giving off heat due to the operation of the fan. The heated air flows are distributed through special air ducts.

Thus, in order to warm up the interior of the car, you need to start the engine and wait for the antifreeze or antifreeze to warm up, passing through the radiator of the stove. In this scheme, malfunctions are not excluded, due to which the stove does not heat well. In this situation, complex diagnostics are required to identify the cause of the malfunctioning of the system.

Coolant level

When the stove does not heat up, the reasons may be in the insufficient level of the coolant, therefore, it is necessary to start the check from it. If the level in the expansion tank is below the minimum mark, add coolant to the norm. The problem may disappear, otherwise the thermostat will have to be checked for functionality.

Checking the thermostat

When the stove does not heat up or does not work well, you need to check the thermostat, which often becomes the cause of the problem. It is a valve that works by changing the coolant temperature in the system. As a standard, when the engine warms up, the thermostat is closed so that the unit warms up faster in cold weather, after which it opens and the coolant flows in a large circle through the cooling radiator. Sometimes the thermostat wedges in the open position, and in this case the coolant always circulates in a large circle. In this case, the stove will work when driving at low speed or when the car is stationary, and when driving, the antifreeze will be cooled using the main radiator, and cold air will blow from the air ducts in the cabin. Thus, when the stove heats up weakly due to the thermostat, it will have to be replaced with a new one.

Other reasons

If you checked the thermostat and the coolant level, and they are normal, and the stove does not heat well, you will have to go deeper into the troubleshooting. Sometimes, when replacing antifreeze, air remains in the system, and it may also be in the radiator flap or damage to the cylinder block. In rare cases, the problem is associated with a dirty cabin filter or radiator.

Air in the system

When changing the coolant, there is a risk of air ingress, as a result of which the heater starts to warm up poorly. When this happens, you need to quickly expel the airlock.

There are various methods to expel air from the cooling system. Some motorists advise driving the car with the front wheels on the rise and turning it off, while others are sure that you can expel the air by thoroughly warming up the engine, and then leaving the car to cool. You can also try after the engine has warmed up (not to operating temperature, so as not to burn yourself), and slightly loosen the clamp on the upper inlet hose. Then the hose must be slightly removed from the nozzle so that the air lock comes out through the gap.

Block damage

A serious reason why the stove does not heat well may be damage to the cylinder block, due to which air enters the system. This happens quite rarely, but the problem cannot be ruled out.

Radiator flap malfunction

The interior heater in a car may not work due to damage to the radiator flap, which prevents air from entering the air duct system. This is a fairly rare malfunction that usually does not manifest itself. Depending on the car model, you will have to disassemble part of the cabin (usually the flap is located behind the glove compartment) and restore the operation of the mechanism.

Clogged radiator

When the stove in the cabin does not heat or does not heat well enough, the reason may be a clogged heater radiator. It can become clogged with road dust, fluff, sand and other dirt from outside. When the radiator gets heavily clogged, it will stop working normally and the stove will blow with slightly warm air.

Also sometimes the radiator gets clogged on the inside, not outside. This is a more serious problem, requiring the dismantling of the part, followed by a thorough washing under pressure using cleaners or improvised means.

Dirty filter

We almost figured out why the stove does not heat well, but there is one more implicit reason that many do not notice. It is associated with a dirty pollen filter. It is not difficult to remedy the situation: you need to buy a new filter element in the store and replace it.

How to prevent malfunctions?

In order not to face a problem when the stove in the car does not heat well, you need to periodically perform preventive actions. First of all, you need to regularly clean the radiator. To clean the main one, you just need to douse it with a stream of water, rinsing the honeycomb, but do not overdo it so as not to damage them. You will need a vacuum cleaner to clean the internal radiator if there is no significant contamination.

An article about why the stove in the passenger compartment of the car may not warm up, and how to fix it. Important tips. At the end of the article - a video about why the stove does not heat up in the car.

The content of the article:

The first frosts come, and many car owners are faced with the problem of heating the car - in the cabin, the stove heats up either weakly or does not work at all. This malfunction brings discomfort, since it is cold in the car, and also negatively affects traffic safety - the glass freezes and visibility is significantly impaired.

Reasons for poor-quality stove operation

There may be several reasons why the stove works unsatisfactorily, we will consider the main ones.

Before starting the troubleshooting, you must carefully familiarize yourself with the device and the principle of operation of the car heating system. The interior heater device on all cars is practically the same, it consists of the main elements:

• fan motor;
• air duct system;
• inlet and outlet branch pipes;
• stove heat exchanger;
• valve for adjusting the coolant supply;
• heater operation control unit;
• dampers with mechanical or electric drive.

Typically, the reason lies in one of these elements:

Heater operation control unit malfunction

A faulty control unit (controller) is detected by the unstable operation of the fan in certain modes. An incorrectly operating air temperature sensor in the car interior can also affect the operation of the unit - it will give incorrect commands, and it will be impossible to provide a comfortable temperature in the car.

Failure of the antifreeze supply valve

This malfunction is very common in Russian-made cars. Mechanical wear or souring of the crane occurs, the sealing rubber elements are crushed or dry out.

In this case, the valve must be replaced, and it is advisable to replace it with the radiator.

Cabin filter

Many motorists are dismissive of the cabin filter - it either never changes or is simply thrown away. But do not forget that a clogged cabin filter can become an obstacle to the flow of warm air into the car interior.

Fan failure

It happens that the fan motor fails. This can be expressed in a whistle during its operation, a constant change in rotation speed from minimum to maximum and vice versa. With such a breakdown, the heater radiator may be hot, but this will not be enough to heat the passenger compartment.

The main reasons for this motor operation are erasure of the graphite brushes of the collector, failure of the shaft bearing. If the motor does not work at all, it is necessary to check the fuse or relay in the electrical power circuit.

Thermostat

This device is directly involved in the regulation of the coolant circulation circles. When the engine warms up immediately after starting, the circulation of antifreeze occurs in a small circle, in which the engine cooling jacket and the furnace radiator participate.

When the engine reaches operating temperature, a large circulation circle opens, to which the main radiator of the cooling system is added.

A faulty thermostat will directly affect the temperature in the car. It has two working positions: open and closed. Its failure is characterized by jamming in one of these positions.

• If the thermostat is stuck in the open position, then this becomes clear from the temperature of the coolant. When driving in high gears, it will be below normal, respectively, the air temperature in the car will be low. When driving in low gears with frequent stops and accelerations, the fluid temperature will be normal.
• If the thermostat is stuck in the closed position, the coolant temperature will be normal when driving in 4th and 5th gears. But driving in city mode will cause an increase in the temperature of the antifreeze, and the temperature inside the car will rise. But due to the high temperature of the coolant, the engine may overheat, which is fraught with its failure.

Clogged heater heat exchanger

Over time, deposits form inside the radiator, consisting of dirt and foreign impurities, one way or another present in the cooling system. Also, the cause of such growths in the pipes may be the antifreeze itself, if it is of poor quality.

Also, the internal cavities of the heat exchanger can be clogged due to improper mixing of antifreeze. For example, it is strictly forbidden to add G11 to antifreeze brand G13. The resulting sediment will soon damage the radiator.

In addition, the outside of the heat exchanger can become clogged with dust, dirt, insects, fallen leaves.

Air cooled cooling system

If air enters the cooling system of the car engine, the stove will not be able to fully perform its function.

Air can enter due to a leak in the cylinder head, which is eliminated by installing a new gasket.

It is also possible to air the system by performing vehicle maintenance when the coolant changes. Recommendations for bleeding the cooling system can be found in the vehicle manual.

The level of antifreeze should also be checked. If there is not enough of it in the system, the stove radiator will not be able to warm up to the required temperature. Air will flow into the cabin, but it will be either slightly warm or cold.

In this case, it is necessary to bring the antifreeze to normal by pouring it into the expansion tank. If the level drops again, check all hoses and connections for leaks.

The main radiator and stove should also be inspected. If there is a leak, the radiator changes. Although there is a wide range of specialty radiator sealants commercially available, they are not recommended as the reliability of such products is usually poor.

Defective pump

The pump (water pump) is designed for forced circulation of antifreeze through the engine cooling system, including to ensure the operation of the stove.

The pump is a metal cylinder with an impeller mounted on a pulley inside. As the pulley rotates, the impeller pushes fluid from the engine block through the pipes to the radiators.

The pump is usually driven by a belt drive, although electric drive is sometimes found.

Major pump malfunctions:

• Internal part of the impeller is worn. The poor quality of the metal or the aggressive action of the coolant lead to the fact that during the actual rotation of the pump pulley, the circulation of antifreeze is very weak, respectively, the stove will not work.
• Broken belt from the engine crankshaft. In this case, the rotation of the pump will be impossible - as a result, the stove does not work, and the engine overheats.
• Mechanical jamming. The pump simply does not rotate, there is no antifreeze circulation.

With all these breakdowns, only replacement will help. Moreover, a "dying" pump can be diagnosed by the characteristic whistle under the hood when the engine is running and by the temperature of the hoses: if the hose is hot before the pump and cold after it, then it should be replaced without waiting for its complete failure.

Prevention of the stove in the cabin

So that the stove does not fail at the most inopportune time, you must follow simple rules:

• High quality antifreeze. The operation of not only the stove, but also the engine depends on its properties. It is necessary to use only good antifreeze and replace it regularly according to the requirements of the car manufacturer.
• Clean radiator. Outside dirt and insects on the radiator can be removed with a vacuum cleaner. Internal cavities can be cleaned with special cleaning agents for the engine cooling system.
• Cabin filter. A dirty cabin filter affects not only the heating intensity of the passenger compartment, but also the ventilation and air conditioning system as a whole. And since a clogged filter often contains pollen of various plants, driving in such a car for allergy sufferers can result in an exacerbation of the disease.

When to consider the stove work abnormal

It is believed that if it is -25 degrees outside, then a properly operating heating system should provide a temperature of at least +16 degrees below the cabin and +10 at its ceiling. If these values \u200b\u200bare lower, then the stove is faulty.

It should be remembered that the more years the car is, the more attention should be paid to the maintenance of the heating system. Compliance with all of the above rules and recommendations will help keep it in good condition, regardless of the year of manufacture and the brand of the car.

Video about why the stove in the car does not heat up:

Many car owners, unfortunately, face an unpleasant problem when the stove in the car does not heat well. If in summer no one pays attention to this, then in winter you have to quickly look for a way out of this situation. Today's article is devoted to finding a way to fix a breakdown in the interior heating system. Otherwise, you will have to freeze before the onset of heat.

Simple recommendations from the authors of a very useful automotive resource Avtopub will help you get rid of this trouble and enjoy the comfort while operating the car. We will consider several options for the development of events - if the stove stopped working at one fine moment and if the stove does not heat well, but still works.

The stove suddenly stopped working

If the stove stopped functioning while driving and coolness began to blow from the holes, we advise you to stop driving and check the amount of liquid in the car's cooling system. To do this, open the hood and pay attention to the liquid level in the expansion tank. Typically, if the temperature in the passenger compartment drops very rapidly, the problem is a coolant leak.

If the level is really low or there is no liquid in the container at all, check the condition of the hoses and fittings (pay particular attention to the places where they connect). It is also worth inspecting the stove radiator and engine cooling radiator. It is not easy to solve the problem in case of mechanical damage to the pipe on the road. Of course, you won't be able to replace the element, but you can at least temporarily restore its performance. Ordinary electrical tape will help with this. If the nipple is very long, the damaged part can be cut off if it can then be used further.

Immediately after eliminating the cause of the coolant leaving, it is necessary to add it to the required mark. Instead of antifreeze or antifreeze, you can use water, this will help you get to the place of a complete repair. As a last resort, fill the tank with snow. This is much better than overheating the motor and stopping the movement altogether.

The stove is blowing unevenly

Sometimes the heating system supplies hot and cold air to the passenger compartment. The reason for this is the ingress of air into the cooling system. This happens in situations like this:

• the joints of the branch pipes are leaky;
• air entering the expansion tank during the process of replacing the coolant;
• failure of the expansion tank valve.

After determining the cause, you need to get rid of the plug. To do this, open the cover of the expansion tank and press the accelerator pedal several times, and the engine temperature should not be below 90 degrees.

The fan is working properly, there is enough liquid, but the stove does not heat

The culprit of the problem may be a control in the car's interior. A normally operating lever should open the tap located on the heater radiator. This leads to the beginning of the circulation of fluid throughout the cooling system.

Sometimes the stove may not heat well due to damage or disconnection of the cable that connects the Cold / Heat control lever to the faucet on the stove radiator.

Fan does not spin

As a rule, it is necessary to look for a breakdown already in electrical equipment. Make sure all fuses are intact first. If necessary, replace the corresponding element. Sometimes the power button does not work. Checking its performance is easy - the wires are bypassed (directly).

The most serious breakdown due to which the stove does not heat is damage to the stove fan itself. You will have to change the fan, and this is not so easy.

The stove is blowing with warm air (not hot)

Probably, the engine has not yet had time to warm up to the required temperature. If the needle on the sensor does not reach 90 degrees, the cause of the problem is obvious. In case of constant observation of such a phenomenon, it is necessary to make sure that the thermostat is working properly. Usually, in such situations, it must be replaced.

In fact, this list can be supplemented with other recommendations. More about why the stove does not heat well -

Most cars are still equipped with a water-cooled engine, which is the same principle in all traditional modern vehicles:

Hot coolant, when heated by engine heat (antifreeze, antifreeze), goes into a small radiator (stove radiator) and begins to heat the air that comes from the street (heat exchange), and then into the passenger compartment through the air ducts laid in the car.

For this very reason, warm air begins to flow into the cabin after the engine warms up and heats up the antifreeze. That is, until the engine warms up, the coolant cannot heat, which passes through the heater radiator.

There are several reasons why warm air may not enter the passenger compartment. For example, in the cooling system itself, a thermostat has failed, or air has somehow entered the cooling system, which interferes with the circulation of antifreeze through the system.

- Stuck thermostat

- Air in the cooling system

- There is no power supply to the electric heater (if the car is equipped with an electric heating system)

- The coolant does not circulate through the heater radiator

We draw your attention to the fact that these are the most common reasons when the stove in the car interior does not work well. Of course, in practice, everything is much more complicated. For example, this may be due to a low level of antifreeze in the cooling system itself, which happens due to a coolant leak (damage to the pipes, cooling radiator, stove radiator, etc.). Also, air may not flow due to a breakdown of the air duct system and the valves of the ventilation system themselves.

Where and what should you pay attention to first of all?

First of all, and. In the event that the level of antifreeze in the expansion tank is at a low or minimum level, then it is necessary to add coolant to its normal level.

The thermostat, as such, is a conventional valve that opens and closes depending on the temperature of the coolant in the system. The cooling system of the car is set in such a way that during the warming up of the power unit, the thermostat is in its closed position, which contributes to a faster warming up of the engine in cold weather.

It is important to know:

But, then the thermostat opens and the antifreeze immediately begins to flow through the pipes that lead the coolant to the radiator of the stove, where heat exchange with cold air takes place. In the event of a thermostat malfunction, and it may not open and even after the engine has reached operating temperature, the cold air coming from the outside radiator of the stove will not heat up, it will enter the passenger compartment unheated, and if the thermostat is jammed, especially in the closed position, the car engine may overheat.

It is noteworthy that the thermostat can jam not only in the closed position. For example, it is not uncommon for the thermostat to jam immediately after it has just opened after the engine has warmed up. As a result, the coolant will begin to circulate in a large circle of the cooling system, even with an unheated cold engine.

In this case, warm air will begin to flow into the passenger compartment very quickly after a cold engine start. True, in this case, the engine will not be able to reach its operating temperature for a very long time.

In order to eliminate this cause, it is necessary to replace the faulty thermostat.

Which is associated with poor interior heating is the ingress of air into the cooling system. In this case, air will greatly interfere with the normal circulation of antifreeze in the system.

In order to correct this problem it is necessary to bleed the air from the cooling system.

Among other things, and this is not uncommon, such a problem can also happen when warm air stops flowing into the cabin due to clogging of the cooling system itself. This can be due to internal corrosion of the cooling radiator.

In this case, flushing the cooling system of the machine is necessary.

With the advent of cold weather, a stove often becomes in demand in a car. A warm and cozy interior where you can protect yourself from the autumn and winter weather is the dream of any driver and passenger. But sometimes stove in car does not heat well so much so that there is no question of getting warm. If the car also stood motionless for a while, then what to do with severely frostbitten windows is a serious question. Because of what, problems with heating the car periodically begin and? In order to better understand this, you need to get acquainted with the entire heating system.

In order for the stove to work in full mode and without failures, all its spare parts must be in good condition. It is arranged quite simply and consists of a radiator itself, a special device for regulating the movement of liquid, pipes through which the coolant circulates, air dampers and an air duct. The car's heating system also includes a fan. The stove will work if there is no malfunction in each of its individual parts.

The main components of the car stove. The stove and its malfunctions.

The main reasons for the failure of the stove

1. The heating system will not work normally if it is got air at the time of replacing the coolant.
2. Air can enter the heating system, if any damage to the main cylinder block.
3. Can jam thermostat in the open position. If, with a sufficiently fast movement, your stove does not cope with heating, but heats well at low speeds, then, most likely, this is the problem.
4. Also, the heating-cooling system cannot work 100% if stove radiator clogged... This can happen for several reasons. Insects, leaves and dust enter the radiator. Or sealant may have entered the radiator. A problem will arise if water or poor-quality antifreeze gets into the radiator.
5. Heating failures can be caused by cabin filter in case of heavy pollution.
6. A fairly frequent breakdown is breakdown of the fan itself... Bearings or brushes can fail and this can lead to unstable operation of the entire system. Problems directly related to electronics may also arise.

These are some of the most common problems. Sometimes, the heating system fails due to damage to the radiator flap... Air may not enter the system or may not be sufficiently supplied.

Poorly working radiator flaps and deflectors often cause poor stove performance.

The situation is a little different when it comes to domestic cars. Let's highlight several reasons why the heating system may not work in these cars.

1. Heater tap lever worked... The gum could dry out or the lever itself sour. In this case, replace it with a new one along with the radiator of the stove itself.
2. Broken upper pipe... Due to its location in the car, it is very easy to accidentally hit this pipe. It breaks down and is completely unusable. It should also be replaced with a new one, after which the operation of the stove should be normalized.
3. Could fail stove control unit, he is a heater controller. This will become noticeable if the fan does not work well in positions 1 and 2. A faulty air temperature sensor in the car can lead to malfunctions in the heating system.

A heavily clogged or damaged heater radiator is one of the main causes of a poorly heating stove.

In order for the stove to always be in working order and not fail at the right time, you need to follow a few simple tips:

1. It is necessary clean radiators regularly from various types of blockages. The external radiator can be cleaned with compressed air streams and, if necessary, can be removed and washed under running water. The internal radiator can also be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner if the level of contamination is not very high.
2. When using non-original or just not entirely high-quality antifreeze, build-ups inside the channels of the pipes cannot be avoided. You can easily clean the radiator without removing it. You just need to swap the top and bottom pipes and let the machine run a little. You can also clean it with household citric acid or use a special flushing liquid. To avoid this problem at all, it is recommended change antifreeze at least once a year.
3. Urgent the defective thermostat must be replaced... If it is stuck open, the stove will not be able to fully warm up the interior, and the car itself will warm up longer. If the thermostat is stuck open, it can lead to overheating of the entire car, which will entail major repairs.
4. If the air from the stove is hot, but its flow is very weak, then most likely it is clogged cabin filter... It is not recommended to use a car without a cabin filter, as all dust and microbes from the street will get directly into the cabin. Therefore, the filter should be replaced with a new one.
5. The heating system will not work well if there are air bubbles in it. This is not a terrible problem, it can be solved. First you should try kick out the air with the engine off. Open the cap of the expansion barrel, find the hose from the barrel to the radiator and try to pour the antifreeze by hand. If this method is not suitable, then it is necessary to let the car idle.
6. You also need to pay attention to flap control levers the stove itself. If the cable or heater valve has come off, this may be the reason for the poor operation of the entire system.
7. Periodically follows lubricate the bearings on the stove fan, and also clean it from dust.

If at an outside air temperature of -25 degrees, the stove of your car heats up the interior to +16 degrees from the bottom and +10 degrees from the top, the stove can be considered quite serviceable. In this case, the temperature in the rear seats of the car should be approximately +15 degrees. The presence of such a noticeable difference between the temperature at the bottom of the cabin and the temperature at the top will provide a comfortable ride for both the driver and the passenger.

To avoid such problems, it is recommended to carry out all preventive measures on time and carefully. This will allow you to enjoy a quiet ride in a well-warmed car. You will protect the glass from the frozen layer, making your movement safer. The longer the service life of the car, the more attention its heating system requires. This applies to all vehicles, regardless of the country of manufacture.