Your car's heating system doesn’t just keep the vehicle warm in winter. It's also tied to the systems keeping your engine cool. When it breaks down, your car may not be able to control its temperature correctly, which can result in damage to the engine. To prevent this, watch out for these signs of a heater problem needing auto repair.

How to Tell If Your Heater Needs Auto Maintenance

1. Too Much Coolant Used

While you need to change the coolant every 30,000 miles and top it off periodically, the coolant is mostly recirculated and shouldn't get depleted too quickly. Therefore, if you're changing it every few weeks or months, there is likely a leak somewhere in the system.

2. Sweet Smell

Engine coolant has a sickly sweet odor, especially when it evaporates after hitting hot engine equipment. If you notice such a smell while driving, it's likely that coolant has spilled onto the engine, so pull over to the side of the road at the next safe opportunity to check it out.

3. Foggy Windows

Likewise, if you're driving and the windows, which were clear, suddenly fog up, it means the humidity has increased. Either a leak has just formed or the engine has warmed up enough that it has caused previously-leaked coolant to evaporate.

4. Cold Car

The clearest sign of a problem with the heater is that it isn't doing its job. While you may be able to tolerate a cold car for a little while, you should still schedule auto repairs to prevent the issue from affecting other systems.

If your car's heater needs to be fixed, choose Kelly’s Auto Repair in Lincoln, NE. Serving Lancaster County for over 25 years, they offer a full range of repairs and maintenance services. Their experienced mechanics pride themselves on honesty and affordable prices and are happy to walk you through the issues with your vehicle. To schedule a visit, call (402) 467-4602. Or follow them on Facebook for more car tips.