Why Does The Heat In My Car Only Work When The Car Is Moving?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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When your vehicle is in motion and driving down the road, then

engine coolant temperature tends to get hotter on the engine before it gets

to the radiator, so the will naturally heat up more when driving around.

Why does my car stop blowing hot air when I stop?

A heater can stop working for a number of reasons, including: A

low antifreeze/water level in the radiator due to a leak in the cooling system

. A bad that isn't allowing the engine to properly warm up. A blower fan that isn't working properly.

Why does my car heat get cold when I stop?


You may have trapped air in the cooling system

or the heater core may be partially plugged up. Engine coolant is delivered to the heater core through two heater hoses.

Why won't my car heat up when idling?


Low coolant

is number one for good reason, it's the most common root cause of heater problems. Proper coolant fluid level is important, as low coolant creates a void inside the system and the void creates air pockets. More on this later.

Why does my heat only work when I press the gas?

It's caused

when your coolant gets low

. Fix your leak and bleed the coolant system. Or you can check this theory by filling and bleeding the coolant system now. If it works, it will be ok until the coolant system gets low and causes the air bubble again.

Why does my heat go cold when idling?

You

may have trapped air in the cooling system

or the heater core may be partially plugged up. Engine coolant is delivered to the heater core through two heater hoses.

How can I tell if my heater core is clogged?

  1. Weak or no airflow.
  2. Cold air (not warm) coming through the vents when the heater is on.
  3. Coolant leakage visible inside the cabin or a damp smell.

What are signs of a bad thermostat?

  • The temperature gauge reads high and the engine overheats.
  • The temperature changes erratically.
  • The vehicle's coolant leaks around the thermostat or under the vehicle.

How much does it cost to replace a thermostat in a car?

The cost of getting a thermostat replaced in a car is

about $200 to $300 on average

. Of course, this will also greatly depend on the make, model, and year of the vehicle that you're driving.

How do you know a thermostat is bad?

  1. Your HVAC Keeps Turning On or Off. …
  2. Faulty Thermostat Readings. …
  3. Suspiciously High Energy Bills. …
  4. Constant Temperature Shifts. …
  5. Thermostat Is Too Old. …
  6. Thermostat Fails to Respond to Changed Settings. …
  7. Your HVAC System Short Cycles. …
  8. Know When to Replace Your Thermostat.

Why is my car not blowing hot or cold air?

If your blower only works on the highest setting, your blower motor control module probably needs to be changed. If the fan isn't working, you probably need to have the blower motor fixed or changed. If the air coming through isn't hot,

the heater core is probably clogged

.

Why does my heat stop working when I stop?

Often, the issue is that

the heating system is simply dirty

. … The system's heat exchanger cannot work unless there's sufficient air moving across it to stop it from overheating. In short, a dirty blower can cause the heat exchanger to fail. Dirty air filters could also be the reason your heater stopped working.

Why do I have to rev my engine to get heat?

You may

have a clogged heater core

that may be prohibiting the outer linings of the heater core to get hot. As you know, the heater core is a series of tubes that the coolant runs through that generates the heat from the warm coolant after circulating through the motor.

Why is the heat in my car not very hot?

If

the heater control valve

is the culprit, the air coming into your vehicle won't feel warm. The heater core may also leak coolant. The heater core is clogged from debris in the cooling system. If debris has caused a clog in the heater core, it will need to be replaced.

Jasmine Sibley
Author
Jasmine Sibley
Jasmine is a DIY enthusiast with a passion for crafting and design. She has written several blog posts on crafting and has been featured in various DIY websites. Jasmine's expertise in sewing, knitting, and woodworking will help you create beautiful and unique projects.