Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Connector Hose Heater Control Valve

The connector hose heater control valve is the valve that allows hot coolant from the engine to flow into the heater core. The heater core is mounted inside the vehicle, positioned near the blower motor and provides the warmth for hot air to be blown through the vents when the heater is activated. When the heater hose control valve or any of its hoses or connectors fail, it can cause problems for the rest of the cooling system and vehicle. Usually a problem with the heater control valve or any of its associated components will produce a few symptoms that can alert the driver of a potential problem that should be serviced.

No warm air

One of the first symptoms of a problem with a heater hose control valve or any of its associated components is an inoperable heater. If the heater control valve fails or gets stuck, it will not be able to allow hot coolant into the heater core so that the heater can operate. If the heater does not have hot coolant the AC system will not be able to blow hot air, and the front defroster may not work.

Leaking coolant

Another symptom of a problem with the heater control valve or it’s hoses or connectors is a coolant leak. If the housing cracks or breaks due to old age or corrosion coolant will leak out. Old age and corrosion can also cause the heater hoses and clamps to leak as well. 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. Coolant leaks can appear as small leaks, spouts of steam, or in more serious cases, large puddles.

The heater control valve and its associated parts are simple components, however, they are very important to the proper functionality of the heater, and any problems with it can both disable the heater as well as cause other problems for the vehicle. If you suspect that your heater control valve or any of its associated components is having an issue, have the vehicle inspected by a professional technician. They will be able to determine if the car needs a heater control valve replacement, or if a different repair is needed.


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Ben

42 years of experience
1589 reviews
Ben
42 years of experience
Kia Soul L4-1.6L - Heating AC Inspection - Houston, Texas
Ben is the consummate professional - knowledgeable, but additionally friendly and personable. I appreciate his honesty and willingness to help.
Volkswagen Beetle - Heating AC - Houston, Texas
i am well satisfied with Mr Smith working on my car(s). He replaced the Jaguar fuel pump like an expert, and then he diagnosed the VW bug ac compressor and fixed it on the spot. I would recommend him to anyone with a car issue

Diana

19 years of experience
130 reviews
Diana
19 years of experience
Hummer H2 V8-6.0L - Heating AC - Brooklyn, New York
Diana is a pro. She made sure everything was ready beforehand, and arrived early, ready to go. She knew her stuff and took the old headers off my Hummer H2 in half the time any other mechanic quoted me. Highly recommended!
Saab 9-3 - Heating AC - Fords, New Jersey
Very professional, prompt and courteous. Knowledgeable in her trade, thorough and informative in description of diagnosis.

Peter

44 years of experience
1397 reviews
Peter
44 years of experience
Saab 9-3 L4-2.0L Turbo - Heating AC - Phoenix, Arizona
He knows what he's doing. Very polite and explained everything. I would no doubt use him again. I highly recommend him.
Mazda Miata - Heating AC - Peoria, Arizona
We are so thrilled to have found Peter as our new mechanic. He is very thorough and knowledgeable. He is also friendly, professional, and extremely honest. He explained to us exactly what services were needed on our vehicle to repair the air conditioner and provided us with an written estimate of the cost. He literally saved us thousands of dollars in repair costs. A local major competitor quoted us a repair cost of a minimum of $1,400 and said that the cost would go up to $2,400 if they discovered an additional part was required. Peter charged us only $202, plus performed the work at our home. The air conditioner in our 2004 Mazda Miata has honestly never worked so great--it always blew out warm air. We just assumed it was how that particular car was manufactured. We would highly recommend Peter to anyone who is in need of an experienced and honest mechanic.

Johnny

34 years of experience
392 reviews
Johnny
34 years of experience
Honda Accord V6-3.5L - Heating AC - Sacramento, California
Johnny showed up early to the appointment and was very thorough in his inspection. He promptly recommended the service to fix the items that are needing repairs. He was very professional and knowledgeable. I would recommend him for service.

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