What is another name for a heater control valve?
The heater control valve (sometimes called the hot water valve) is used to control the rate at which coolant flows through the heater core. The valve is located on the heater inlet hose. Manually operated systems may use a cable, a vacuum motor or an electric solenoid to operate the valve.
Do you need heater control valve?
Not all cars have a heater control valve The motion of the blend door balances the amount of hot and cool air coming through the interior vents, based on the climate control system settings chosen. In a blend door system, the heater is always on, so a heater control valve is not necessary to regulate its output.
Why is my heater control valve leaking?
Over time the heater control valve can wear out and crack, which will cause coolant to leak from the valve. Heater control valves can also leak from excessive corrosion from contact with old or contaminated engine coolant. Usually a leaking control valve will have to be replaced in order to repair the leak.
Will a bad heater control valve cause overheating?
A coolant leak at the heater control valve is not only a problem in that it will disable the heater, but it will also compromise the cooling system which can cause the engine to overheat.
How do I know if my heater control valve is working?
Pinch off the hose on the outlet side of the heater control valve (the hose closest to the firewall) and drive the vehicle at highway speeds. If the blower stops blowing hot air, you’ve found the problem. And, if the air conditioning runs colder with the hose clamped off, the valve is causing the problem.
Can a heater control valve cause no heat?
You wouldn’t want your cold AC air to pass through a hot heater core before it enters the passenger compartment, so this heater control valve regulates coolant flow into the heater core. If this valve has an issue, it can cause no heat or AC that doesn’t cool enough.
Can you repair a heater control valve?
A mechanic will replace the heater control valve, which regulates the flow of coolant from the engine to the heater core, if it is bad or leaking. If coolant is leaking from your car or the heater does not work, you’ll need this service.
How do you test a heater control valve?
How Do You Test a Heater Control Valve?
- Bring the engine up to operating temperature and switch the heater to the hottest setting.
- Check the temperature of the valve’s outlet hose (between the valve and the heater core)—it should feel nearly as hot as the valve’s inlet hose.
What does a heater control valve do on a car?
This component has an inlet and outlet to allow coolant to flow through the core. The blower motor blows air through the heater core and to the passenger compartment inside of your automobile. The heater control valve is the device that controls the flow of the hot engine coolant through the heater core.
Why is my car blowing out cold air when the heat is on?
Low Coolant Level The coolant (usually a mixture of water and antifreeze) in your engine doesn’t just work to keep the engine from overheating: It’s also the source of heat supporting the heating system. If there isn’t enough coolant in your system, the heater core will blow cold air into your car.