Can you unclog heater core

These are issues that should not be ignored, especially if you want your car to live a long and happy life, full of safe trips. There are a few telltale signs that your car needs a heater core flush. Heater core issues are unique, especially since one of those potential issues is the leaking into your interior.

This will help to prevent the build-up of dirt, debris, and rust particles in the narrow passages—which ultimately causes clogs and damage. And breathing in poison. There will be an inlet and outlet hose, one that takes in the coolant and the other which pushes it back out. Before you loosen them, make sure you set your large bucket underneath. If you were able to get your hands on an air compressor, now is the time to use it.

This will enable you to build up pressure, loosening any gunk and tough clogs. Once enough pressure has built up, you can shut off the compressor. Caution: Too much pressure could cause damage. Once everything seems to have drained, you can remove the air compressor and attach the water hose using the same sealing method. Always dispose of your old fluids the proper way. These chemicals are not friendly to the environment.

Part 3 of 4: Flushing out the heater core Step 1: Turn on the water. Let it sit for 30 minutes. Note : Make sure the cleaner you are using is good for aluminum and automotive use. Household chemicals can damage the heater core and eat away at the aluminum. Next Step Schedule Heater is not working Inspection The most popular service booked by readers of this article is Heater is not working Inspection.

Home Heater is not working Inspection. The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified.

Please see our terms of service for more details. Excellent Auto Repair Ratings. YourMechanic Auto Repair. Related Articles. How a Car's Heating System Works. Experienced Mechanic? Recent Heater is not working Inspection reviews. Excellent Rating. Rating Summary. Victor 35 years of experience. Request Victor. Dodge Ram V Victor from Your Mechanic, arrived on time. He was professional, friendly and polite.

He answered any questions concerning my vehicle's issue. He pinpointed the part in need of replacement and repair. I would highly recommend Victor to anyone looking for a mechanic. Victor did a fantastic job on my Jeep. He wasn't able to fix the issue, unfortunately, but he diagnosed the problem and was able to get me some quotes from places I could take it to have it fixed.

I will definitely recommend him to any friends or family in need of mechanical work and will keep him in mind for any future issues I may have!

Tim 15 years of experience. Request Tim. Pontiac Torrent V Awesome mechanic as he knew what the issue was and recommendations to fix it I highly recommend his service Greg 22 years of experience. Request Greg. Mazda 3 L Greg arrived on time, he was friendly and knowledgeable. Although the repair to my heater could have required an expensive part, Greg was able to manipulate the assembly to resolve the issue in a way that bypassed this expense and should stay in place for a good long time.

Greg assured me that if I had any problem with it going forward, I could call him for further attention. He sent me his number, and also informed me of other types of maintenance that he can perform for me at the convenience of my home. I appreciated Greg's knowledgeability, his friendly, outgoing demeanor, and his quick resourcefulness. My only concern would be that he did not wear a mask, and was working inside my vehicle for about an hour.

Though our interaction fortunately took place entirely outside, I still would have felt more comfortable if he'd had on a mask. Otherwise, everything about Greg's performance was excellent. Jonathan 26 years of experience. This article has been viewed , times. Learn more Hot coolant that has passed through other parts of the engine is run through the heater core as air is forced past it and into the cabin of the vehicle to heat it. A clogged heater core will prevent the coolant from passing through it, limiting the amount of heat that can be transferred.

Flushing the heater core can remove these clogs, but if it fails to work, you may need to have your heater core replaced. Next, insert an airline into the outlet hose and seal the line with duct tape. Place a container under the vehicle, turn on the air compressor, and allow the coolant and grime to drain into the container.

Then, fill the system with water times with a water hose to flush out any remaining coolant. For tips on jacking up your vehicle so you can access the firewall, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No. Log in Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue. No account yet? Create an account. Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy.

Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article parts. Related Articles. Article Summary. Part 1. The heater core inlet and outlet pipes are usually located on the firewall separating the engine from the cabin of the vehicle.

Its location will vary from vehicle to vehicle so if you have difficulty locating the inlet and outlet hoses, refer to the service manual for your specific vehicle. You can locate the nozzles by following the coolant hoses through the coolant system. Disconnect the heater hoses. Most coolant hoses are attached using hose clamps that will need to be loosened with either a screw driver or wrench.

Remember, when you disconnect the heater hoses, coolant and water will pour from them, so be sure the container is placed directly beneath the hoses below the car. Be careful not to spill coolant on the ground, as it is bad for the environment.

Point the inlet hose down toward the container. In order to clean the blockage out of the heater core, you will need to force either air or water through the system. As you do so, the coolant, water and grime within the system will be expelled through the inlet hose. Insert an airline or water hose into the outlet hose. If you have an air compressor, you can use an airline to push out the remaining coolant and grime within the heater core.

If not, you can use a garden hose for the same purposes.