Does Turning on the Heater Without Starting the Engine Affect the Car?

[SanAnthony]

Turning on the heater without starting the engine does affect the car. When the heater is turned on without the engine running, the battery discharges without being charged, which can damage the battery. Additionally, turning on the heater without starting the engine can cause the wiring supplying the heater to burn out due to the lack of current. However, if the car breaks down, you can turn on the heater for about ten minutes to warm up the interior before turning it off, which won't have a significant impact on the car. You can turn on the air conditioning without starting the engine, but the air coming out will only be natural air blown by the blower. This is because the air conditioning compressor is powered by the engine, so it won't work when the engine is off. The blower, which blows natural air, is powered by the battery. Prolonged use of the blower can drain the battery, potentially leading to long-term battery depletion.