Why is it that when I turned off the heat in my car it started leaking mass amounts of antifreeze outside of the car and smoke and condensation started coming out of the vents?

1. Will heater core leak if heat is off?
2. Why does my car leak coolant when I turn it off?
3. Can a bad heater core cause coolant to leak?
4. How expensive is it to replace a heater core?
5. How does a heater core get clogged?
6. Why does my car smoke when I turn on the heater?
7. Can clogged heater core cause overheating?
8. Where is a heater core located?
9. How do I know if my thermostat or water pump is bad?
10. Can I drive a car with leaking coolant?

Will heater core leak if heat is off?

Lack of Heat

In some cases, a heater core simply becomes fatigued over time and starts to leak. However, there are also instances where a lack of upkeep can lead to a heater core's early demise. A leaking heater core can also cause the windshield to fog up, as coolant vapor travels through the defrost vents.

Why does my car leak coolant when I turn it off?

It sounds like you may have a faulty water control valve, which may be prohibiting the flow of coolant properly through the heater core from the motor. Generally, when this happens you may notice the heater may not work or that coolant is leaking.

Can a bad heater core cause coolant to leak?

Another sign of a damaged heater core is leakage of coolant from under the dashboard. As said earlier, the location of the heater core is behind the dashboard on the passenger side. If your heater core is leaking coolant, that means the coolant level is low. As such, the engine can overheat.

How expensive is it to replace a heater core?

Replacing the heater core can be an expensive job, and usually costs between $564 – $927 for parts and labor. The parts aren't particularly expensive, normally costing $80 – $234, but the location of the heater core means that labor costs tend to be quite high.

How does a heater core get clogged?

Heater cores get blocked by crud and corrosion. The passages in the core are just a millimeter wide so it does not take much crud to clog them up. Sometimes you can use a garden hose and reverse-flush the core and some crud will come out, no guarantees.

Why does my car smoke when I turn on the heater?

If the "smoke" has a sweet smell with it then it could be steam cause by a leak from the heater core or coolant hoses in your heater. Usually this fogs up the interior glass as well as leaving a slimy film. This can leave your cooling system low on coolant decreasing the output from your heater.

Can clogged heater core cause overheating?

While your vehicle's heating system needs coolant to warm the interior, the engine needs coolant to keep it from overheating. If there is a clogged heater core, it will keep the coolant from flowing through the engine, causing it to overheat.

Where is a heater core located?

A heater core is a small radiator located under the dashboard of the vehicle, and it consists of conductive aluminium or brass tubing with cooling fins to increase surface area. Hot coolant passing through the heater core gives off heat before returning to the engine cooling circuit.

How do I know if my thermostat or water pump is bad?

Answer: If the temperature gauge indicates the engine is overheating, the water pump bearing may be faulty and not allowing coolant to circulate properly. Another possibility is the thermostat is not functioning right. Depending on your particular model, you can try to listen to the pump with a length of hose.

Can I drive a car with leaking coolant?

A car's radiator helps keep the engine cool. If there's a leak, coolant will be lost. ... The cool air then flows back into the engine, preventing the engine from overheating. It's best to avoid driving your car if you have a coolant leak because an overheating engine is an unsafe engine!