style="margin-top: 0%;">How to Quickly Warm Up Your Vehicle in Winter
When you first enter your vehicle during the colder months, your engine is also cold, including components — like the heater core — that its responsible for heating up. In effect, cold air is pumped into your cabin. These chilly first few moments can put a damper on winter drives. Here are a few steps you can take to help your car warm up quicker.
Start Driving
Vehicles have become far more advanced over the last 30 years. And with these advancements, its no longer necessary to sit in a freezing car for 10 to 15 minutes as it begins to heat up. In fact, idling for long periods can lead to increased wear on your vehicles components, waste unnecessary fuel and money, and in some regions, it may even be illegal.
The sooner you begin to drive your car, the sooner your INFINITIs engine will heat up. And since the heat from your engine helps to warm up the air within your cabin, normal driving can be far more effective than idling in the driveway. Although you may have a brief moment of cold during the first few minutes of your commute, the faster, warmer air will be a relief for you and your passengers.
Start by Turning on the Ignition
Start your car and idle for no more than 30 seconds. Idling for a brief period will allow your heater core to generate warmth. Then, begin your drive and turn on your air. Warm air should start to circulate your cabin.
Put Your Automatic Climate Control to Use
Many INFINITI vehicles come equipped with an automatic climate control (automatic air conditioning) feature. If you have one in place during the winter months, it may be time to put it to use.
A functional system automatically controls the temperature, airflow, fan speed, and air circulation within your vehicles cabin, and setting it to AUTO can help your car reach your preferred temperature as fast as possible.
Pro-tip: Cranking the dial to full heat won’t make your car heater output more heat, and it wont reach the set temperature any faster.
How to Work the Heater in a Car When Winter Driving
Driving in colder temperatures can lead to a few car heater issues, including lower visibility caused by fog. Heres how to help keep your cabin fog-free during winter.
- Keep the A/C On: Your vehicles A/C helps remove moisture from the air in order to dehumidify your cabin. Turning it off in winter can lead to foggy car windows.
- Open a Window: If your windows are foggy, crack open a window to help clear the fog
- Use "Defrost" Mode: If your windows are fogging, engaging this feature can help direct warm, dry air to your vehicles windows.
- DONT Use "Recirc" Mode: Although you may instinctively want to keep warm air circulating around the cabin, fresh air is needed to help clear window fog.
Common Winter Car Heater Issues to Watch For
There are few things worse than driving a vehicle with a broken car heater, especially in winter. Not only can this be a safety hazard since you may not be able to defrost your mirrors and windows, but driving while cold can be downright miserable. Learn what causes a car heater to stop working and what you can do about it.
Low or Contaminated Coolant
Your cooling system relies on coolant to keep your car warm in winter. When your engine heats up, it also heats up the coolant so that it can pass through your heater core. A fan then blows heat away from the heater core and distributes warm air into your cabin.
When your coolant is low or contaminated, your heating core and other components may become compromised. The effect — your car heater may start to fail or stop working completely. To ensure that you have a functioning car heater in winter, check your coolant to ensure it isnt contaminated and is at the appropriate levels.
Note: If your coolant levels are low, your cooling system may have a leak. In which case, have your vehicle inspected by an authorized INFINITI service center
A Failing Thermostat
The thermostat within your cooling system helps your engine distribute coolant to the heater core. If this component is not opening efficiently, the coolant wont be able to pass through. This blockage can prevent your heater core from producing heat. If the thermostat is stuck open, your engine may have difficulty maintaining the appropriate temperature — another cause for cold air coming from the car heater.
If this component becomes damaged, get an OEM replacementOEM replacement at INFINITI Parts & Accessories immediately. A broken thermostat can lead to overheating and potential engine repair.
A Broken or Damaged Fan
If the thermostat is working and your coolant is level and clean, you may want to inspect the fan within your cooling system. A broken fan wont be able to distribute heated air into your vehicles cabin.
Start by checking the fuse inside your fan to ensure the circuits are connected. If the fuse is working but the fan isnt, it may be time to visit your local INFINITI retailer for repair.
How to Prevent Car Heater Problems in Winter
Although this isnt a comprehensive list of cooling system issues, its essential to keep an eye out for potential problems. Here are a few preventative measures you can take to ensure you have adequate heat within your cabin this winter.
- Ensure that your coolant is clean and at the appropriate levels.
- Service your coolant regularly.
- Keep an eye out for thermostat issues.
- Ensure your fan is running properly and the fuses havent opened
Your cooling systems components work in tandem to generate heat for your ride. By prioritizing these preventative steps, you may be able to avoid costly repairs down the road.
Dont get caught in the cold this winter! Find genuine
OEM HVAC partsOEM HVAC parts at INFINITI Parts & Accessories. Order the replacement parts you need online today, and bring your INFINITI to your
nearest service center.