Auto heater parts

Heater: key insights into component performance, mounting, diagnostics, and durability

Heating and ventilation systems are a set of devices that provide air circulation between the car and the environment and heating in wintertime. They help to create a comfortable microclimate inside the vehicle.

Design of heating and ventilation systems

Heating and ventilation systems include the following parts:

• Radiator.This is integrated into the engine cooling system. It warms up the air entering the car.
• Fan. This ensures the forced air intake from the outside and distributes it more efficiently for better heating.
• Air intakes. These are located in the car bonnet. Air enters them to get inside the vehicle.
• Air ducts. These are intended for transferring air into the vehicle cabin. They are also where the valves and shutters which enable people to control the heater are located.
• Vent tabs. These are special sliding shutters which allow distributing and adjusting the direction of airflows.
• Vents. These are located in the back part of the vehicle, for example in the pillars. They allow air to exit the vehicle.
• Cabin filter. This filters the air coming from the outside.
• Flap. This is installed in the channel in front of the radiator. It controls the amount of air which is to be heated.
• Recirculation duct. This leads to the car cabin. When it opens, the air intake duct is closed.
• Switch. This enables turning the system on and off and selecting the heater’s operation mode.

Maintenance tips

• Switch on the recirculation mode to increase the temperature inside the vehicle.
• Replace the cabin filter twice a year on average. A clogged component doesn't only impair the performance of other units in the system but also becomes a breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria.
• Use special car care products to clean as well as sanitise the vents. There are disinfectant sprays that are available for purchase. They are used in the following way: You switch on the recirculation system at full power, close all the windows and doors, fix the bottle in the middle of the car interior, remove the locking ring, leave the car for 15 minutes, andair out the cabin thoroughly afterwards. There are special kinds of disinfectant foams for cleaning air ducts. You spray them into the ventilation system after removing the cabin filter and then warm up the engine to activate the care product. Then you turn on the heater to evaporate the residues of the cleaner.
• Make sure the ventilation system is operating properly. Its malfunctions affect the performance of the heater.

Malfunction symptoms

The most frequent defect is the heater fan breaking down. If you can’t switch it on at all, it can indicate a blown fuse or the failure of the unit’s motor orswitch. When the latter fails, the fan may sometimes work in only one mode. It may occur that the heater doesn’t turn off when you turn the knob. In this case, it may be necessary to adjust cables of the damper actuator. Low efficiency of the heater can be explained by a low level of working fluid in the cooling system, by the presence of airlocks in one of the radiators, or a defective thermostat. Bad odours in the cabin and window fogging can indicate the clogging of the air filter orair ducts. Noise in the fan is caused by wear and tear of the bearing or a slantedfan.

Malfunction causes

A failure to replace the coolant on time results in the clogging of the radiator passages in the heating and ventilation systems. Foreign particles and dirt stuck to the radiator’s surface also decrease the efficiency of heat exchange processes and can cause damage to the fan. Airlocks are sometimes formed in the system and should be removed.

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