i've noticed recently my heat running faintly even if on HI or 85. today it just flat out didnt work even with the car fully warmed up. any idea what this might be?

 

check your coolant level. If the coolant level is low, the heat in the car is affected significantly.

Be sure to check it when the engine is cold

 

about time for a coolant flush. On my old cars, when the coolant got old, it affected how hot the car got. Did a flush and it went back to normal

 

Happened to me couple of years ago. The coolant was low. Make sure you check the radiator and not just the overflow reservoir.

 

thanks guys! I've also noticed spots of liquid underneath my car. I do not know what color it is, but it started around the same time my heat stopped working. I talked to someone at firestone and they said that not only is my coolant low but I may have a leak.

what could possible cause a leak? my car is only 2007.... and all the work ive had done on it has been at firestone. could they be bending me over? if the coolant is low is there a chance the remainder just drains out of the car?

 

Toyota LF coolant should be red....

 

If I had to guess its either a leaky hose or water pump.

I thought the 2IS used the premixed pink stuff?

 

i used to hear water bubbling when the car started too...never knew what it was. so the leaky hose or pump could also affect the coolant? im new to all of this and i wouldn't mind trying to fix it myself instead of paying firestone to "look" at my car when i already know whats wrong with it

 

that water bubbling sound when the car starts is probably because the coolant level is already low to begin with in the engine block. a leaking water pump or hose would cause your engines pink coolant to spray everywhere since the pump spins and the hoses are under high pressure. if its a hose its easy to do yourself, if its the water pump and since you said you're new to this, I would have a shop or dealership replace it.

 

so it turns out the issue was in fact the water pump. it failed and according to them it was normal wear and tear.... but wear and tear on an 07 vehicle?..... ok. anyway the part costs 250$ and the labor is a whopping 600$ because its a really difficult part to replace? not replacing it i could face my engine locking up/overheating meaning even worse repairs. sigh.

this isnt fun anymore it just seems like im always repairing my car lol

 

i was gonna say have your water pump checked. but check other local mom and pop shops and purchase the water pump through sewell. If you are up for it and have the tools try doing it yourself to save yourself $600. If you live near northeast indiana me and my buddy could do it very easily. just don't drive with a failed water pump or your engine WILL overheat and it WILL lock up

 

i have a big road trip ahead of me and i don't have time to wait for sewell. this all came up at the last minute. if i knew it was failing i would have though. hindsight is so 20/20

 

I wouldn't recommend going on a road trip while leaking coolant. If you have to take the vehicle make sure you have plenty of extra coolant in the trunk and check the level regularly on the way. I was on the way back from Atlanta a couple years ago and my oil cooler line started leaking. I stopped and got 2 gallons of distilled water and used almost all of it by the time I got home.