Foggy Inside Your Peugeot? How to Tell if the Heating Core is Going Bad

It’s that time of year again. You’re trading in your short sleeves for a jacket, your shorts for trousers and turning up the heat in your Peugeot as you drive to work. Now is the perfect time to check on your heater and make sure it operates correctly before the full force of winter comes down. This means ensuring your heater core is working right.

But what is a heater core? What does it do? Where is it? These are common questions many car owners have and important ones. You don’t want to endure the cold as you sit in traffic at seven o’clock in the morning after all.

A heater core is an essential part of the cooling system in a car. It looks like a small version of the Peugeot’s radiator and it actually is a type of radiator. The heater core features a waffled appearance and has a variety of little tubes on it. It disperses heat and lets your defroster and heater work.

Function of a Heater Core

The heater core uses coolant just like your radiator. Coolant circulates through its tubes, coming through one hose and out another. This provides heat to the cabin of your Peugeot so you can stand the drive into work on those cool winter mornings. It also makes sure your defroster works properly, so you can see out of the windscreen and safely drive.

Heater Core Location

When looking for this Peugeot part, you’ll most likely find it behind your dash on the passenger side of the vehicle. It isn’t easy to reach, as it is often surrounded by other car parts and components within this same space. It also typically has housing or casing surrounding it.

Signs Your Heater Core is Going Out

It isn’t too difficult to actually determine whether or not your heater core is still good, but it is difficult to actually replace this part. The signs range from the obvious to the peculiar.

• It’s so Cold in Here- The most obvious sign that you’re going to need to replace the heater core is a cold cabin. However, this problem could be the result of other failing car parts. It may be that other components within the heater, like the blower motor, are going bad. Luckily, many of these Peugeot parts are easier to replace than the actual heater core. If the problem is actually the heater core, however, it’s probably due to a hole that has developed. When this occurs, warm air created by the heater core doesn’t have enough time to reach you before it escapes through the hole. The size of the hole will determine exactly how much heat you feel. Smaller holes may allow some warm air to reach you, resulting in a lukewarm or mildly warm cabin. If the hole or puncture is too large, you may feel nothing but cold air coming from the heater ducts.

• It’s Overheating- A good sign that your heater core is malfunctioning is when the cabin of your Peugeot is cold, but the car is overheating, and continues to do so. This can also be due to other Peugeot parts as well, as other components can cause overheating. Check for coolant leaks elsewhere before looking at your heater core. Remember, overheating can be a serious issue for your vehicle. If the temperature reaches dangerous levels, shut it off as quickly as possible and don’t drive it. Have it towed if necessary to avoid damaging other car parts. They can wear down quickly with too much heat.

• It Seems to be Thirsty- Have you noticed that your Peugeot has been drinking more than usual lately? An excessive need for coolant often means that a leak is occurring. If you can’t find it elsewhere, your heater core may be busted. If you can’t find the leak from the heater core, it might be that the leak is actually occurring within the cabin when your car is cold. Check the floor of the passenger seat. If it feels damp or if there is standing water, your heater core is probably to blame. It may need to be completely replaced if it’s too far gone to repair.

• It’s a Bit Foggy in Here- One of the most common clues to a bad heater core has to be a foggy cabin. If you suddenly notice your Peugeot is fogging up for no reason at all, the heater core probably quit while you were driving and the engine was warm. While the coolant was still warm, it leaked into the cabin and evaporated into steam when it collided with the car’s cool air. This results in moist, warm condensation on every window in the car.

• Do you Smell Melons?- You may not mind the odour of sweet and fruity melons in your Peugeot. After all, you pay good money for those deodorizers that hang from your rearview mirror. Unfortunately, this odour may cost you a lot more. Even if the inside of the vehicle isn’t foggy and no dampness can be found in the passenger floorboard, this odour is a sure sign that you have a coolant leak. Check to see if you can smell it while standing outside of the Peugeot. If you can, you may be able to see the leak on the ground beneath the car.

The heater core is one of those important car parts we don’t think about until we need it. Before the full force of winter brings the cold you really need to escape, check to make sure your heater core is still good. Don’t abandon it throughout the year, either. Pay attention and look for these signs that help you understand if your heater core is going bad and replace it immediately.

Keep in mind that replacing a heater core yourself is difficult and may require the assistance of a professional. Don’t hesitate to contact a mechanic to assist you in removing this Peugeot part from under the dash and replacing it with a new one.