How Do I Turn On The Heat In My Car? - Vehicle Freak

• Brian Onyango

Updated on April 8, 2024

Cold weather is unpleasant, and the last thing you want is to be stuck in a freezing car. When the cold kicks in you will need to turn on your car heater. If you have never done this before, don’t worry, as it’s quite simple.

Before you can turn on the heat in your car, you need to let the engine reach the running temperature, signified by the temp gauge reaching the middle mark. Set the temperature dial to high heat or red markings, and then turn the fan setting to let the hot air into the cabin.

What Is a Car Heater

All modern cars come standard with a car heater. A car heater uses the heat from the engine to warm up the interior of the vehicle. The engine produces a lot of heat, and a car heater is designed to transfer that heat into the cabin.

The car’s air conditioning system works similarly, but instead of transferring heat into the cabin, it transfers heat out of the cabin. That is why when you turn on the air conditioning in your car, you will feel a blast of cold air.

Types of Car Heaters

There are two types of car heaters: electric and mechanical.

Electrical

Electric car heaters are less common and are usually only found in luxury vehicles. They work by using electricity to generate heat, which is then transferred into the cabin. Electrical heaters have the advantage of being very quiet and can be turned on and off quickly.

It is controlled by a knob or button on the dash and can be turned on without the engine running. This is because they do not rely on the engine to generate heat as they use electricity generated from the car’s battery.

Mechanical

The vast majority of cars have a mechanical heater, which uses the heat from the engine to warm up the cabin. Mechanical heaters are very simple and reliable but can be a bit noisy.

They are controlled by a knob or button on the dash and must be turned on when the engine is running.

What Do the Different Heater Controls Do

The car heater is controlled by a panel located on the lower section of the dashboard depending on the model and year of the car. The control is not only a single button or knob but has several at different positions to do different things.

Front and Rear Demist

There is a front demister and a rear demister, these are different because the front has to clear the driver’s vision while the rear just needs to stop the back windscreen from steaming up.

The front demister is usually a separate knob to the rear or has an extra position on the control panel.

Air Flow Direction

There are usually different settings for the direction of airflow, these can be up and down, side to side, or a combination of the two. You can also have a setting that just blows air through the vents without changing the direction.

Blower Speed

The blower speed is how fast the air is coming out of the vents, there are usually different settings for this so you can have it as low or high as you need.

You can also have a setting to have the air coming out at different speeds on the left and right-hand sides. This can be useful if you have passengers and want to direct more air to one side.

Temperature

The temperature control is usually a knob that you turn to make the air coming out of the vents hotter or colder. The knob will likely have symbols on it for “hot” and “cold.” This will have different settings depending on the car.

You may also have a separate knob or button for the temperature of the passenger’s side and the driver’s side. This can be useful if you want the temperature to be different on each side.

Turning On the Heater in Your Car

Now that we have gone over the different parts of the car heater and what they do, it’s time to learn how to turn on the heat in your car. Here is a step-by-step guide:

1. Start the engine of your car. You will need to do this before you can turn on the heater as it needs the heat from the engine to work.
2. Find the heater controls. These are usually located on the lower section of the dashboard on the left-hand side.
3. Turn on the front and rear demisters. These are usually controlled by separate knobs or buttons.
4. Set the direction of airflow. This is usually controlled by a lever or knob.
5. Set the blower speed. This is usually controlled by a knob or lever.
6. Set the temperature. This is usually controlled by a knob. You may also have separate controls for the driver and passenger side temperature.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s Air Distribution?

Air Distribution is how the airflow is directed in the car. Most cars will have a knob or lever to control this. This is so you can direct the airflow to where you want it to go. The most common settings are up and down, side to side, or a combination of both.

Can I Have the Heat On Without the Engine Running?

Depending on the type of heater your car has, you may be able to have the heat on without the engine running. Some cars have an electrical heater, which uses electricity to heat the cabin.

These can be turned on without the engine running. However, they are not as effective as the mechanical heater and will use more battery power.

Why Isn’t My Car Heater Working?

In case your car heater isn’t working, the first thing you should check is the coolant level. If the coolant level is low, it needs to be topped up.

The next thing you should check is the thermostat. The thermostat controls the flow of coolant and if it is faulty, it can cause the heater to not work. Lastly, you should check the fuse for the heater. If this is blown, it will need to be replaced.

What Does the Recirculation Button Do?

The recirculation button is used to recycle the air inside the cabin. This can be useful in several situations.

For example, if you have been driving in a dusty area, you can use the recirculation button to stop dust from coming into the cabin. It can also be useful in cold weather as it can help to heat the cabin more quickly.

Conclusion

Turning on the heater in your car is a fairly simple process once you know where the controls are and what they do. You need to start by turning on your ignition or engine depending on the type of car you have.

Then, locate the heater controls on the lower left side of your dashboard. After that, turn on the front and rear demisters set the direction of airflow, set the blower speed, and finally set the temperature.

Keep in mind that you can make independent temperature settings for the driver and passenger sides in some cars. If you’re having trouble with your car heater, be sure to check the coolant level, the thermostat, and the fuse for the heater.

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