juice14

why does the engine have to be warmed up for the A/C HEAT to start warming up the cabin?

I have an idea but i was just wondering this while I was freezing my A$$ inside my car this morning while it warmed up. good thing i have seat warmers. haha

SLegacy99

Cars get their heat from the heat that the engine makes. Thats why engine temps. are higher than what they need to be. So that you can have a nice warm passenger compartment.

I8ABMR

I find the AC works a little better once the motor is warmed and the car starts moving

juice14

here is the thing. I kwno the car need to be warmed up for the AC HEAT to start warming up the cabin. I just want a mechanical explanation. exactly where does the Ac get the heat from?

CK6Speed

iTrader: (1)

Hot coolant passes through the heater core and heat exchange takes place and heats up the air.

Lexiss_sc430

iTrader: (2)

what he said and....

Imagine a little radiator or intercooler type thing inside the heater core, your radiator coolant flows through the veins of this mini radiator. As air is blown past the veins by the fan the air is heated up by the hot coolant flowing in those veins and blown out your vents giving you warm/hot air. Now if your car is cold, your radiator fluid will be cold and will not transfer any heat to the air blowing past the element inside the heater core



http://auto.howstuffworks.com/cooling-system10.htm

juice14

HA. there it is. that answers my Q
or my "stupid" question