Q: Heater is blowing cold air when sitting at idle.

asked by on December 09, 2016

As usual when the engine heats up after driving for a while hot air starts coming through. When I make a stop like in traffic then it starts to blow cold air

My car has 197000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Heater is not working Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote
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The lack of heat being generated by your system may indicate a clogged heater core. The [heater core]((https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/heater-is-not-working-inspection) is a small radiator like unit that circulates the hot coolant from the engine through the heater core which then uses this warm coolant to heat the inside of the car with the help of the blower motor that blows the warm air through the vents inside the car. The other possibility is that the thermostat may not be allowing the engine to reach a normal operating temperature and since the engine’s warm coolant is the essential source of the heater core supplying heat to the inside of the vehicle, this can impact the warmth of the heat inside the vehicle. I would suggest having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your heating system.

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