It's cold and there's no heat in my car

newlywed

I have a ford escort, about 12 years old.

Heat inside the car was working fine yesterday. This morning, just cold air, not even a hint of heat during a half hour journey. Blowers work fine. Engine temp gauge says engine is warm to the usual point (not overheating).

There doesn't seem to be any water or unusual damp inside the front wells of the car, which I think is an indication of the heater matrix being duff.


Erm the coolant may be a bit low as I haven't checked it

All was well yesterday


Should I buy extra coolant and top up? (can't remember what make I was told to get other than it was red )

Is there anything else I can check - need really simple non-mechanic explanations please

Yes I'm a girl, and my dad used to sort all this out but I can't ask him as he's having an op today

espresso

newlywed wrote: »

Erm the coolant may be a bit low as I haven't checked it


Should I buy extra coolant and top up? (can't remember what make I was told to get other than it was red )

Yes check the coolant level ASAP and you will obviously need to top it up if required. If the coolant level drops, you can get air in the pipes to the heater radiator inside the car and this will stop the heater working.

newlywed

espresso wrote: »

Yes check the coolant level ASAP and you will obviously need to top it up if required. If the coolant level drops, you can get air in the pipes to the heater radiator inside the car and this will stop the heater working.

Thank you.

It's all added into the main water reservoir isn't it? The water has been topped up but not the coolant.

How do I know how much coolant to add? Second hand car, no handbook

How do I know what coolant to buy? The one added before was red liquid I think.


Crumbs I sound and feel very dim!!! Sorry


I do know how to check and add the oil, water, screen wash, fuses, tyre pressure, and change a tyre - but that's as far as I get

espresso

newlywed wrote: »

Thank you.

It's all added into the main water reservoir isn't it?

Most cars have an expansion/header tank where the coolant is topped up.

The water has been topped up but not the coolant.

You should not top up the cooling system with water as this will dilute the strength or do you mean that the water for the screenwash has been topped up?

How do I know how much coolant to add? Second hand car, no handbook

Some coolant is sold ready to use (already diluted) but other types need to be added so that it's 40% or 50% coolant to water.

How do I know what coolant to buy? The one added before was red liquid I think.

The place where you buy it should help you but just standard antifreeze/coolant e.g. Comma, Holts, Halfords etc

................

newlywed

You should not top up the cooling system with water as this will dilute the strength or do you mean that the water for the screenwash has been topped up?


Um, no OH topped up with water for the rad/cooling system. We added antifreeze/coolant once along with the water, but OH has topped up with more water since.

I'll get some antifreeze/coolant and add it and hope for the best

espresso

newlywed wrote: »

You should not top up the cooling system with water as this will dilute the strength or do you mean that the water for the screenwash has been topped up?


Um, no OH topped up with water for the rad/cooling system. We added antifreeze/coolant once along with the water, but OH has topped up with more water since.

:eek:

Not a good idea, as now your antifreeze may not be of sufficient strength to stop it freezing in these temperatures. If it has frozen, that would explain no heating and you could easily have a split hose. Needs checking ASAP e.g. don't use the car until properly checked.

kaya

sounds like you have an air lock in the heater matrix, if you have a radiator cap remove it when the engine is cold, start your engine and turn the heaters on full, rev engine gently for a while, replace cap and try again, or it could be a broken/loose cable between the control and the heater itself

espresso

kaya wrote: »

sounds like you have an air lock in the heater matrix, if you have a radiator cap remove it when the engine is cold, start your engine and turn the heaters on full, rev engine gently for a while, replace cap and try again, or it could be a broken/loose cable between the control and the heater itself

The coolant level needs to be checked first!

:rolleyes:

goldspanners

it could be the temp switch in the car, this is a common fault on ford ka's and some focus'.
if you have coolant in the cooling system header tank and no leaks then i doubt its going to be an air lock.

Hodgehappy

Why not get one of those heated seats you can plug into your cigarette lighter to sit on & keep you toasty in the meantime??

molerat

Hodgehappy wrote: »

Why not get one of those heated seats you can plug into your cigarette lighter to sit on & keep you toasty in the meantime??

Toasty !!!! but freezing legs :rolleyes: