With winter rapidly approaching and cool weather in full swing, it is important to be sure your car is producing heat properly. It can be hazardous to drive in icy conditions without a functioning heater to defrost your windshield, so getting to the bottom of why the heater isn’t working is something that the service technicians at Beaverton Kia can diagnose for you. To better understand why your Kia isn’t producing heat, we’ve laid out a few of the most common reasons below.

1. Low Coolant – Starting with the most common reason why your heater isn’t blowing sufficient warm air, low coolant can come from a leak or water evaporation. If the coolant level in your engine is low, it won’t be able to generate enough heat to warm up the cabin. To check the coolant level, open the hood and locate the coolant reservoir. The reservoir is usually clear plastic and has a marked fill line. If the coolant level is below the fill line, add more coolant until it reaches the line.
2. Thermostat – Put simply, a broken thermostat will prevent the engine from heating up. The thermostat is a small device that regulates the flow of coolant to the engine. When broken, it will not let enough coolant into the engine, meaning the engine won’t generate enough heat to warm up the cabin. If this is the issue, you’ll just need to replace the thermostat, which is relatively inexpensive!
3. Heater Core – A clogged heater core restricts coolant flow from the engine to the cabin, preventing warm air from reaching the passengers. If there is a problem with the heater core, the warm air that the engine is producing is getting trapped in the metal radiator-like fins and won’t ever reach the cabin. This is a more complex issue that will require help from a qualified service technician.
4. Electric Cooling Fans/Heater Control Valve – In some cars, a switch must be turned on for the heating system to start working. This switch is usually located near the steering wheel or center console. If this switch is bad or stuck, electric cooling fans running will constantly prevent the coolant (and the engine) from reaching operating temperature. Additionally, the heater control valve might only open when the temperature control is set to hot. A stuck-closed valve events hot coolant from flowing through the heater core.
5. Blend Doors – Your blend door actuator might be stuck in the cold position which is preventing the heated air from reaching the cabin. The blend door might be failing or out of calibration – consult a mechanic for the official diagnosis on this one.

Service at Beaverton Kia

No matter what the issue is, getting your heater back in working condition is our main priority at Beaverton Kia. If you recently visited us to get your fluids topped off or to get your radiator flushed with new coolant and your heater doesn’t seem to be working, this could be due to air bubbles entering the cooling system, including the heater core. This can be fixed by simply “burping” your cooling system to get the air bubbles out. We know, sounds silly, but it really works! Check out our service specials and come see us today to get your Kia serviced by our team of experts.