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 up, which passes through the heater radiator.
There are several reasons why warm air may not be able to 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 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 configured 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's important to know:
But, then the thermostat opens and the antifreeze immediately begins to flow through the pipes that lead the coolant to the stove radiator, 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 stuck, 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 start of the engine. 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 heating of the passenger compartment 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 occur when warm air stops flowing into the passenger compartment due to clogging of the cooling system itself. This can be due to internal corrosion of the cooling radiator.
In this case it is necessary to flush the cooling system of the machine.
Many motorists, with the arrival of winter cold, start to frantically knock on the ventilation system in the car, from which hot air should come, but for some reason this does not happen. In other words, the stove does not heat well, but not everyone knows how to solve this issue on their own, because you don’t want to spend money on contacting a car service, where they will tear it off at exorbitant prices!
In fact, you can figure out the problem yourself if you know the device of the car's heating system. Indeed, for the stove to work properly, it is necessary that all its parts work flawlessly.
So, a car stove consists of only five parts:
- A radiator in which the flow of antifreeze is regulated;
- Nozzles, inside of which antifreeze circulates;
- Air dampers;
- Air duct system;
- Furnace fan.
The car stove does not heat well: reasons
Among the main reasons why a car stove (as a rule, foreign cars) does not heat well or stops working altogether, the following six breakdowns are called:
1. An air lock has formed.
The heating of the car will malfunction if there is an airlock inside the system. As a rule, such a plug appears when the procedure for changing the antifreeze is not followed. In addition, air can continuously enter the heating system if the main block, which consists of cylinders, has a number of defects.
2. The thermostat is stuck.
In the event that at low speeds the stove is working properly, and during acceleration and fast movement, it stops heating the cabin at a given level, it means that the thermostat is most likely jammed, and the jam occurred at the moment of its opening ().
3. Stove radiator clogged.
If the stove does not heat at all, then, most likely, the stove radiator is clogged in your car. Such contamination of the radiator can occur due to dirt, dust and debris falling into it. Also, sometimes there are cases of water or sealant getting into the radiator, as well as poor quality antifreeze. How to flush the radiator and engine.
4. The cabin filter is clogged.
Any interruption in normal heating is caused by the cabin filter, provided it is excessively dirty.
5. The fan has malfunctioned.
6. Broken radiator flap.
The stove heats up very badly, and if the radiator flap breaks, then in this case the air enters the system in insufficient quantities, and it begins to malfunction.
The stove in VAZ cars does not heat well: additional reasons
In addition to the reasons listed above, we will list the most frequent breakdowns in the heating system of VAZ cars that cause it to stop or malfunction, and options for their elimination:
1. The lever of the heater tap is worn out. This happens, as a rule, due to the drying out of the gum, or due to acidification of the lever itself. To eliminate this breakdown, the lever is changed, and this can only be done by simultaneously replacing the stove radiator;
2. The upper branch pipe is out of order, which, due to its location, is often touched by the driver. In the event of a breakdown, it turns out to be completely unusable, therefore it must only be replaced with a new pipe;
3. The furnace control unit, which is correctly called the "controller", has broken down. In this case, the owner of the car learns that the stove does not heat well when the fan is turned on in the first or second position;
4. A common breakdown of the heating system is a broken temperature sensor located directly in the passenger compartment;
5. In VAZ cars, the heating radiator is often very much clogged, which is the main reason due to which the stove will not heat well.
Rules for the operation of a car stove
Maintaining the working condition of the stove is an important process that the car owner must keep under constant control. And this can be done if you follow simple rules:
1. Carry out regular cleaning of the radiator. To clean the radiator from the outside, use a compressor; you can also simply rinse the radiator with water from under the hose. The inside of the radiator, with a low level of contamination, is very convenient to clean with a vacuum cleaner;
2. Never use "left" antifreeze, which is the cause of contamination of the pipes. In this case, the radiator can be easily cleaned by simply swapping the lower and upper pipes and starting the car engine. And in order not to bring the stove to the point that the stove does not heat well, experts recommend replacing the antifreeze once a year;
3. Do not ride with a broken thermostat. When stuck open, it will cause the passenger compartment to overheat quickly and the vehicle warms up very slowly. If the thermostat is stuck closed, this will lead to significant overheating of the car, and this can already cause serious repairs;
4. Do not drive in the winter without a cabin filter, as all street dust will fly into the car dealership immediately. For this reason, a damaged cabin filter should be replaced with a new filter;
5. Do not allow air to enter the heating system. To eliminate this problem, you will have to expel air from the heating system by turning off the engine. This can be done by opening the plug located on the expansion tank, then using the hose from the tank going to the radiator, carefully pour all the antifreeze in it. In detail: In other cases, the machine is simply allowed to run idle for a while, until the problem with the stove is eliminated;
6. Observe the control levers that regulate the oven dampers;
7. Regularly lubricate the ventilation bearings on the stove and clean it from dust.
According to the accepted standards, and in everyday life, it is generally accepted that at a temperature outside the passenger compartment of -25 ° C, the stove heating should warm the upper part of the cabin to a temperature of at least 16 ° C, and the lower one - to a temperature of 10 ° C. Otherwise, the stove needs to be repaired, since only such a difference in temperature ensures a comfortable stay inside the cabin.
And most importantly - never forget that the frequency of failures in the operation of a car stove is directly proportional to the operating time of the car. This applies to cars of various models and manufacturers, in which the stove does not heat well, and which have been operated for a single year!
Video: Stove does not work - troubleshooting
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With the onset of cold weather, car owners are faced with an unpleasant situation: after starting the engine and turning on the stove, the car interior does not begin to warm up with warm air, despite the fact that the regulator and the intensity of the blowing are set to "maximum". Why the stove in the car does not heat up, how to detect a malfunction and try to fix the situation on your own - this will be discussed in this article.
Liquid cooling is the primary way to remove heat from the engine. The heated liquid from the engine with the help of special pipes is directed to the cabin heating radiator, where the built-in fan takes in the outside air, passes it through the radiator, the cabin filter and pumps it into the cabin. The supply of warm air flows can be stopped by malfunctions, which are conventionally divided into two large groups: breakdowns of the heating system itself and malfunctions of the car's cooling system.
But, before talking about malfunctions of the car heating system, it should be noted the objective reasons why warm air does not enter the passenger compartment. In winter frosts at temperatures from -15 to -30-40 degrees Celsius, it will not be possible to get an influx of warm air immediately. The car will need from 10 to 15-20 minutes to warm up the heat-dissipating liquid (antifreeze, antifreeze) to a comfortable 40-70 degrees, at which the stove begins to heat the interior. Many car models are equipped with stoves, air conditioners and climate control systems, which generally begin to work only when the antifreeze is fully warmed up.
Interior heating system
Clogged stove radiator
Reason # 1. The coolant does not pass through the radiator. The addition of water, antifreeze of another brand or antifreeze to the antifreeze contributes to the appearance of solid deposits in the liquid, which clog the radiator channels and interfere with its heating. Attempts to add various "cleaning" additives to the antifreeze on the advice of friends or videos on the Internet lead to the same result. Ways to solve the problem:
- buying a new or used heater. When buying a used part, you need to choose the lightest one if the seller offers several samples;
- flushing the radiator. You can try rinsing the heater yourself: we dilute about 50 g of citric acid in 1 liter of warm water, disconnect the hoses from the heating system and tightly attach them to two plastic bottles, after removing air from one bottle and pouring the solution into the other. Alternately squeezing the bottles, we pump water with acid, rinsing the radiator;
- swapping of nozzles. Changing the direction of movement of antifreeze often flushes away solid deposits, which temporarily improves the performance of heating the passenger compartment.
Reason # 2. The radiator heats up, but the stove does not heat up. The most likely reason is the failure of the electric motor that rotates the fan. The problem is solved by replacing the engine.
Clogged cabin filter
Reason number 3. Malfunction of oven controls or electronics(power buttons, temperature change levers, electronic relay). The problem often occurs in cases where the temperature switch is moved to any position with the battery terminal removed. Ways to solve the problem:
- purchase and replacement of failed components;
- independent transfer of the valve flap to the "open" position;
- set the temperature lever to the maximum "hot" position, disconnect the terminal. Return to the "cold" position, make sure that the adjustment works again.
Reason number 4. Dirty pollen filter. A clogged filter can also prevent the stove from warming up the machine. To solve this problem, this part is simply replaced.
Car engine cooling system
In some cases, the stove may not work due to a breakdown of the car engine cooling system. What is the most common breakdown?
Faulty thermostat
Reason # 1. Thermostat. A thermostat is a device built into the system for transporting a heat-removing fluid, which regulates the movement of antifreeze in a large or small circle of the system. When driving in a small circle, the liquid passes through the cooling jackets of the cylinder block and the head, bypassing the radiator - this helps to heat the antifreeze faster and stabilize the engine. In the case when the thermostat "wedges" on a large circle, the pump pumps antifreeze through the radiator, significantly increasing the heating agent heating time. Cold liquid is not able to quickly heat the cabin radiator, therefore the stove does not heat. The only solution to the problem is to replace the thermostat.
Reason # 2. Insufficient coolant level. If there is a shortage of antifreeze or antifreeze in the cooling system, the heated coolant does not enter the cabin radiator in the required amount, so cold air enters the cabin. To solve this problem with the stove, you need to find and eliminate the places of fluid leakage, if necessary, replace the cylinder block gasket, add antifreeze to the maximum mark of the expansion tank.
Checking the level of antifreeze
Reason number 3. "Airing" of the cooling system. Air enters the system for several reasons: damage to the gasket between the block and the cylinder head, when replacing a heat-conducting fluid, in case of leakage of pipes and heat pipes, etc. system components: radiator, expansion tank, under the plug in the collapse of the V-engine block. When the engine is cold, the level of antifreeze should be maximum. Solution:
- with a cold engine, remove the radiator cap, manually bleed the system, methodically squeezing and unclenching the hoses leading to the radiator until air bubbles appear. After that, close the radiator, start the engine, after 1-2 minutes the procedure must be repeated;
- we raise it in front of the car with a jack or by driving the front wheels onto a gentle obstacle, open the radiator and expansion tank. We start the engine, energetically press the accelerator several times, top up the antifreeze in a timely manner, close the radiator and the reservoir.
- Keep an eye on the technical condition of all components of the car stove: radiator, fan, cabin filter, electronics, timely replace failed parts.
- When warming up the car in severe frost, do not set the stove regulator to the maximum position: the engine and interior will heat up much more slowly. It is enough to set the regulator to the initial position or to "1".
- Owners of cars with a small engine capacity during severe cold snaps, it is advisable to take additional measures that will help the engine to reach the desired temperature faster, for example, briefly cover the unit with a blanket or block the air access to the main radiator with cardboard.
Video on the topic
The question of the health of the car heating system worries every motorist. With the onset of cold weather, a faulty stove can play a cruel joke with the owner of the car. But nobody wants to freeze. Therefore, in this article we will talk about what the reasons for the stove malfunction may be, why it does not work and how to fix these problems.
Troubleshooting and elimination
One of the most frequent breakdowns of a machine's heating system is a fan breakdown. Failures in the operation of this element are also possible. The fan can run, but instead of hot air, cold air will come in. In this case, you need to check the pipes that are directed to the stove from the radiator. If one tube is cold and the other hot, then the coolant circulation mode is disturbed in your heating system. In this case, check if the tap is open. You also need to check the rods that are responsible for starting on the stove. If any components of the system are faulty, for example, a faucet, then it is recommended to replace them.
- Experts recommend getting rid of the faucet and replacing it with a piece of pipe. This will completely fill the cooling system with coolant.
- Another reason for a malfunctioning heating system can be an air lock. Getting rid of this problem is very easy. It is enough just to remove the liquid from the edge of the neck, then start the engine and sharply press the gas pedal. This way you will be able to break through the air lock in the cooling system.
- A clogged radiator may also be the cause of the malfunction. To clean it, it is enough to perform a simple dismantling and use a vacuum cleaner for the internal radiator, and for the external it is better to use compressed air streams.
- If your dampers do not work, then most likely there is a problem with the drive rods. It is also recommended to inspect the dampers to check their condition. There should be no cracks on the dampers.
- Pay special attention to the heater radiator. In this case, this element is heavily contaminated. It is he who causes the stove to break down. If the radiator is already heavily soiled, the fan will not work. You will have to disassemble the heating system and check the general condition of the stove motor. It is recommended to immediately change parts and assemblies.
- Another reason for the failure of the heating fan can be a wire break. In this case, you can check the ventilation holes. The holes are usually found on doors. If there really is a wire break, then it is enough to solder the wires, and the fan will start working.
- If you notice that the stove is humming, then there is a problem with the motor. In this case, you need to contact an auto electrician.
Work standards
Like any device, the heating system has its own standards. Moreover, it should be noted that if a climate control system is installed in your car, then its device is more complicated, which means that maintenance also requires certain knowledge. Therefore, it is better to send the climate control system of the car, which is under the warranty of the service center, to specialists. Otherwise, you may lose your warranty.
As for the work standards, usually at a temperature of -25 after 10 minutes of engine operation, the temperature in the cabin should exceed 15 degrees Celsius. Moreover, you should not feel the heat in the upper part of the cabin. In other words, your head shouldn't be hot. If you notice that the operation of the heating system in terms of standards is violated, then you should check it.
Finally, I would like to note that with an increase in mileage, it becomes more difficult to take care of the heating system. However, this does not mean at all that it does not need to be checked. On the contrary, the higher the mileage, the more often the heating system should be checked.
Every driver at least once in his life was faced with the fact that the stove was blowing cold air. At the same time, in winter it is impossible to warm up the car interior to a comfortable temperature and warm it up. Operation of the vehicle becomes impossible, especially at very low temperatures.
Interior heater. Work and device
The heating system of the car's interior includes an electric fan, pipes for supplying and circulating coolant, a radiator, shut-off valves, air ducts and air dampers. The heating element is located in the front panel housing.
Two branch pipes are connected to the radiator housing, through which the liquid enters it. The movement of the coolant is carried out under the influence of the operation of the water pump, the cooling system of the power unit. At the moment the engine warms up, a heat transfer process takes place. Antifreeze takes excess heat from the engine, thereby cooling it. When the shut-off valves are open, hot coolant enters the heater radiator housing, at the same moment the stove fan blows cold air onto it. Thus, the radiator gives off its heat to the air flow, which in a heated state enters
For the system to work effectively in winter, you need to warm up the engine well. Thirty degrees is enough for the heater to supply warm air to the passenger compartment. Turning on the system immediately after starting the engine will only increase the warm-up time of the engine and the interior itself.
Experienced drivers recommend turning on the VAZ stove fan at the moment when the coolant temperature reaches fifty degrees. This indicator is most effective when the car is warmed up in the morning in frosty conditions of both the engine and the passenger compartment. Otherwise, you risk losing valuable time and unnecessarily burning fuel.
Major malfunctions
When the stove is blowing with cold air, this can be due to several different reasons for a malfunction in or heating. Each damage has its own character and methods of elimination. The most frequent breakdowns include: the presence of an air lock in the heater circuit, faulty thermostat, breakdown of regulator drives, contamination of the cabin filter element, clogged honeycomb of the stove radiator housing, deterioration of the pump impeller. We will look at these faults in more detail below.
Airlock
As a rule, air enters the system when some elements of the system are depressurized, as well as when the amount of coolant in the expansion tank is critically reduced. How are these problems resolved?
The first step is to check the level of antifreeze in the expander. This process needs to be carried out only on an unheated motor. The amount of liquid should be within the maximum mark, but in no case exceed this figure.
If the level of antifreeze is below the minimum mark, then it should be topped up. If the level drops frequently to the minimum or until the expander is completely empty, a leak is possible. In this case, it must be urgently eliminated. Air must be pumped as follows. Place the car on a flat surface, remove the cover from the expander. After that, start the engine and, increasing the speed several times, add antifreeze.
Water pump
If the stove is idle, blowing cold air, then the cause of the malfunction may be worn impeller blades.
Basically, this happens when the car is no longer the first freshness or different coolants were used in the system. What happens at this moment? A worn out impeller of the pump at a time of low cannot create optimal pressure in the system for full circulation of antifreeze. To fix this problem, you just need to replace the pump.
Thermostat
Due to the faulty condition of the thermostat, the temperature of the cooling material may not reach the optimum value or significantly exceed its values. So, at the moment when the thermostat is stuck open, and the car is moving in urban conditions, the heater will warm up perfectly. But when driving at high speeds, the temperature regime of the liquid will significantly decrease - the stove will not heat well. A defective thermostat cannot be repaired; it is also replaced with a new one.
Regulator drive "warm-cold"
This system mechanism can cause the stove to blow cold air. The reason lies in the control drive itself. Basically, all control devices of this type are equipped with metal cables.
At a certain moment, the switch can jam in one position. At that moment, if the regulator is stuck in the “warm” position, warm air will begin to flow into the passenger compartment. Its temperature will depend on the degree of opening of the damper at the time of jamming. But if the damper control is stuck in the closed position, the stove blows with cold air.
Regardless of how the controls and controls for the dampers and taps of the stove (lever, wheel, disk switch) look like, they have the same malfunction. Often there is a breakage of the rod elements (cable, rod) from the fasteners on the cranes and control levers. Less often, the cables get clogged and rust in the protective cover and do not move well in it.
At the moment when the stove blows with cold air due to a malfunction of the control drives, and it is not possible to carry out a full repair (for example, on the road), you need to manually move the shut-off valves to the "open" position. In vehicles in which the temperature control drive is carried out by means of electronic mechanisms, the first step is to check the condition of the fuses in the system. But in general, it is recommended to contact the nearest car service.
Stove radiator
Clogging of cells leads to a deterioration in its throughput.
This is often due to the use of low-quality coolants in the cooling system or the long service life of the heater radiator. This is why the stove is blowing cold air. There are several available ways to eliminate this type of malfunction. Flush the radiator with a special flushing agent, reverse the connection of the branch pipes. If after these operations the situation does not change, then it is necessary to replace the stove with a new one.
Replacing the heater
As a rule, the stove radiator is changed in two cases: when it cannot be restored due to clogging, or if it is rotten and has a leak. It happens that even a new heating part can leak. This is mainly due to the poor quality materials of the purchased product.
You can replace the stove radiator at home. To do this, you need to adhere to the sequence of the repair process. It is important to note that repairs are easier to do with a partner. This paragraph specifies the process of how the Kalina stove is dismantled and installed.
Step-by-step dismantling process:
- First you need to drain about three liters of coolant.
- For unhindered dismantling of the radiator, remove the accelerator pedal and raise the brake pedal as high as possible.
- Removable First, remove the protective panels from the column. Then we disconnect the wiring plug from it.
- Disconnect the parts of the intermediate cardan joint and unscrew the mounting bracket from the body. After these works, we completely remove the steering column.
- We remove the "toad" of the feet, located on the right side of the brake pedal.
- Now, by hanging the brake and accelerator pedals in the upper position, we get access to the radiator.
Before removing the stove, the following work must be carried out from the engine compartment. We remove the battery, its mounting cavity and the base bracket. Disconnect the air filter pipe and bend it towards the passenger compartment. Then we unscrew the coolant pipes from the radiator fittings of the interior heater. Removing the pipes, it is possible to leak antifreeze from the stove, which remained there in an insignificant amount.
Acting from the side of the passenger compartment, with a hacksaw blade for metal, we saw off the plastic pipes. Then the Kalina stove is removed together with a seal and a metal protection element.
Installing a new
Installing a new radiator:
- We install a new radiator in its seat. For greater ease of installation, we cut off part of the plastic pipes in advance.
- Having placed the radiator in the passenger compartment, we connect the coolant supply pipes from the engine side to its outlets.
- All subsequent work is performed in the reverse order of removal.
Before removing the stove, it is advisable to get new pipes for its connection in advance and replace them together with the radiator.
This is due to the fact that they can lose their original characteristics in the process of work, and their separate replacement is additional financial and time costs.
Replacing the heater stove on a passenger car is a time consuming process, it often takes a lot of time. In order to avoid constant repairs of this nature, only an original and high-quality part should be installed on a car, and also used exclusively reliable and proven materials as a coolant. It is advisable to diagnose the heating system before the onset of the cold season, so as not to have problems with it in the winter in the future.
