Heater doesn’t get hot

ANSWER : It sounds like your engine might have a restriction in the cooling system. If the cooling system has a restriction that prevents its flow, this will cause the engine to get hot. The heat is dissipated from the cooling system by means of the radiator.

When a restriction exists sometimes the radiator alone is not enough. The heater core is like a small radiator inside the dash and is also another means of dissipating the heat from the cooling system. So essentially when the heat is on you are introducing a second radiator into the system which will help to cool the engine down.

In order to get this fixed, consider YourMechanic, as one of our mobile technicians can come to your home or office to diagnose the overheating issue firsthand and help you make the necessary repairs.

ANSWER : The main two reasons that a vehicle will overheat at low speeds but remain cool at high speeds are a clogged radiator or an inoperative cooling fan. I would first recommend driving your vehicle a short distance to get it to operating temperature. Then, stop the vehicle, open the hood, and check to see if the radiator fan is working. If the fan is not working, this is the cause of your problem. The radiator fan’s job is to keep air flow through the radiator when the vehicle is moving at slower speeds. The radiator being cloggeed by contaminants can also prevent air flow through the radiator. I would recommend having your radiator checked for hot spots using an infared thermometer if your fan is working to determine if it is clogged. Consider YourMechanic as a certified professional can come to your home or office to inspect your cooling system for you.

ANSWER : There are a few reasons that a caliper piston might fail to retract and there is also the possibility that the heat is being generated by a failing wheel bearing. If the issue is brake related, pressure in the line might be failing to release (due to a line fault such as a blockage), the pads might be stuck or binding in the torque plate and there could be problems with the sliding pins in the torque plate. Also, you’ll want to check for a parking brake assembly that is failing to retract at that wheel position. To obtain a quick resolution of this, you can request a brake inspection and a certified mechanic will come right to your location. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

ANSWER : There is inadequate coolant flow or, less likely, a leak at the head gasket. Remote possibilities include dragging brakes, under inflated tires, and transmission faults. Inadequate coolant flow can be due to a low coolant level, a faulty thermostat, a plugged radiator, a faulty radiator pressure cap, collapsed hoses, non functioning cooling fans, and a faulty water pump or drive belt. Certain engine faults, such as a leaking head gasket or poor engine running condition can also cause overheating. If you desire that this problem be diagnosed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request an engine overheating diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. I’d be happy to provide my insight.

From the description of your 2010 Pontiac G6 braking issue, there are a few likely causes. If the piston in the caliper did not move freely than this will allow the brake pad to drag on the rotor. When the pad drags it can overheat the rear brakes and cause them to fail. The caliper will need to be inspected before the vehicle is driven more.

If you would like help getting these inspected, consider having an expert automotive technician from YourMechanic come to your home or office to inspect and diagnose these brake problems for you, and make or suggest any repairs as needed.

ANSWER : If you replaced all those parts and it still is overheating then you have a radiator that is clogged and/or the fan is not working. You need to see if the upper and lower hose is hot when the vehicle heats up. If this is the case then replace the radiator and check the fan operation to make sure it is working.

ANSWER : Hello there, a few common faults will cause your vehicle to have air that is not very hot. Without knowing the year, make and model of the vehicle I can only provide a broad answer. The most likely faults are air in the cooling system, a failing heater core, coolant leaks, or the thermostat. A qualified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, will be able to diagnose your heating and make any repairs required to resolve the issue.

ANSWER : Hello there, warm air coming from the vents on your 2001 Ford Taurus will be caused by a variety of issues. The heating system for your vehicle and the air conditioning system are completely separate and likely unrelated. A low coolant level in your vehicle will cause the heat to be unable to function properly and is the most likely culprit for the air being warm and not hot.

If the coolant is very low it likely means a leak is present in the vehicle. A few common leaks spots are the water pump, thermostat housing, radiator, radiator hoses, heater hose, or the heater core itself.

If you’d like to get this resolved, a qualified technician such as one from YourMechanic will be able to diagnose your heating issues and make any repairs required to restore proper operation.