Ryan asks,

I was joking with friends this weekend about how I'm saving money by wearing my winter coat in the car because my heater is blowing cold air and I have opted not to get it fixed. My wife claims it might be time for a new car. Could the cold air indicate a serious problem? Could my wife be right?

Dear Ryan,

The fact of the matter is that your wife could be closer to the truth than you might imagine. While many different malfunctions can cause a heater to blow cold air, the most common reason is low coolant. If your vehicle is not equipped with a low coolant light, the cold temperature from your heater will likely be the first symptom you will receive. Chances are that you have either developed a leak or your engine is consuming coolant. The next likely symptom is an overheated engine. Your car overheating can lead to catastrophic damage to your engine and other systems under the hood and cost you a bundle.

My Bottom Line:

If this happens to you, have it checked out as soon as possible. Something as simple as a loose clamp could turn into a costly repair or even require engine replacement if not addressed. If it turns out that the cold blowing heater is caused by a malfunction that won't lead to catastrophic damage, put away your credit card, break out the old goose down coat and work this repair into your budget when it fits.

Dana TePoel

Lake Arbor Automotive & Truck