Heating and Cooling know your Car
A vehicle is a person´s life support system to the outside world. It takes an individual from here to there without asking questions. After driving a certain vehicle for a certain period of time, an individual can start to tell when something is wrong with the vehicle. Different sounds, smells, feels and even visual signs can all alarm an individual of a problem. A vehicle is like a human being and it also needs to see a doctor every once in a while.
The heating and cooling system of a vehicle is extremely important. Without this system, vehicles would cease to exist. There are many different signs that the heating and cooling system needs maintenance. One of the most obvious signs would be antifreeze underneath the vehicle. Most antifreeze's are a greenish, yellow color, or an orange color. If antifreeze is noticed, one of many items could be the culprit. Any of the following components could be the cause. The radiator, radiator hoses, heater hoses, heater core, thermostat, thermostat housing, the water pump and even the engine block can malfunction (http://www.ehow.com/how_6900466_troubleshooting-auto-heating-system.html). If this problem is noticed it is best to have your car checked out right away.
Temperature gauges can be a car owner´s best friend. Always be cautious of your gauges and know where they normally sit. In most cars the temperature gauge sits right in the middle and does not rise unless a problem occurs. If the gauge rises cut the car off immediately. If the car is not cut off major components may malfunction. There could be a simple explanation for this. The coolant level in the car may be low. Never remove the radiator cap while the vehicle is hot as this could result in severe burns. Never pour coolant into the engine while it is hot as this could result in a cracked head or block which is a significant problem. If the car is overheating, this is a sure sign that the heating and cooling system is failing.
There may be other indications inside the cab of your vehicle. The heater core is located under dash normally on the passenger side. If the smell of antifreeze is inside the car, there is probably a problem. Antifreeze normally has a sweet smell to it. The passenger side floor board may be getting wet. Normally if this happens, the heater core has malfunctioned and needs to be replaced. Whether the repair is done at home or by a mechanic, it should be done in a timely manner as to not cause any other damage.
The heating and cooling system of a vehicle is it's life line. Taking proper care of this system will help to make sure that the vehicle has a prolonged life. Being prepared and knowing what to look for will save an individual hundreds if not thousands in repair bills. Just because an individual does not know that much information about vehicles does not give another individual the right to rip them off.
