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WHAT TO DO WHEN A CAR OVERHEATS
American Pride Automotive • Sep 24, 2014
You’re on the road and suddenly you notice the little red engine temperature needle climbing into dangerous territory. You may even see smoke or steam wafting up from under the hood. The engine is overheating. What do you do? What could cause this to happen?
First things first: Don’t panic. Your engine isn’t likely to blow up (though if you do notice smoke or steam, pull over immediately). If it seems to be overheating just slightly, turn off the air conditioner to take some strain off of the engine and turn on the heat to draw heat away from the engine.
If turning off the A/C and blasting the heat brings the needle back down, try your best to make it home or to the nearest auto repair shop if those places are within a quarter mile. If not, pull over and turn the engine off. When a vehicle overheats in heavy traffic, avoid using the brakes too frequently and do your best to get off the road as soon as possible. From there, either call a tow truck or, if you’re comfortable with the inner workings of your vehicle (and have coolant, water and basic auto repair tools on hand), prepare to find the source of the problem.
Once the engine has cooled after about half an hour, carefully pop the hood and find the coolant tank. The initial thing to look for is a coolant leak. If the tank is empty or if coolant is low and there is an obvious crack, a leak is probable. In this case you will need to have the coolant tank replaced eventually, but in the meantime you should add coolant to the radiator. SAFETY NOTE: Wait until the engine is completely cool before opening the radiator cap. Failing to do so can lead to serious burns from pressurized fluid.
From there, add the correct ratio of coolant and water, replace the cap, close the hood and make your way to an auto repair shop.
If both the coolant reservoir and radiator have the correct levels of coolant, a number of other mechanical issues could be causing the overheating:
- incorrect coolant to water ratio
- a malfunctioning thermostat
- a broken radiator or radiator fan
- a cracked or broken hoses
- a bad water pump
- a broken fan belt
- a clogged radiator
- extremely hot weather
If you find that your engine gets a little too hot a little too often or experience a major overheating episode, bring the vehicle into American Pride. We specialize in cooling system and engine repair and our ASE-certified technicians are well-versed in fixing the problems that lead an engine to overheat. Call or contact American Pride today to schedule an appointment.
We want to say thank you to all of our healthcare and first responders. Please accept this specialized offer.
You’re driving home at night and it is raining cats and dogs. You can’t see but 20 feet in front of your car, but you’ve slowed down and are being extra cautious, so what could go wrong? Then you feel it. A sinking Cl-clunk. Maybe that “puddle” you saw ahead of you was deeper than just a puddle. Before you know it, your car is stalling in the high water in the middle of the road. Now what? First off, don’t panic. Turn on your hazards and crank the ignition once. If the car starts, make it dry land and pull over to assess the damage. If it does not start the first time, do not try to start it again. Doing so can result in a hydro locked engine and will likely necessitate the rebuilding or replacement of the engine. Unfortunately, if you find yourself stalling in water at all, your vehicle will probably need costly repairs. The best way to avoid water damage is to practice safe and smart driving in wet weather, which brings us to Part 2 of the Everything Auto “Blame it on the Rain” series (Find Part 1 here). Take heed of these severe weather driving tips: 1. TAKE NO CHANCES ON PUDDLES Even if the standing water ahead of you looks shallow enough to drive through, think twice. If the water is “rushing” or if other drivers are making a point to avoid it, don’t assume that your vehicle is the exception. Additionally, you never know the hazards that lay at the bottom of a puddle. Hidden potholes or debris can pierce your tires and jostle your alignment and suspension system. 2. IF YOU MUST TAKE A CHANCE, TAKE IT SLOW AND STEADY When you deem it necessary and safe to drive through water of questionable depth, go slowly. Speeding through a puddle, even a shallow one, can splash water into your vehicle’s intake and critically harm the engine. Like we mentioned last week, after driving through standing water, lightly tap your brakes to make sure they aren’t saturated and to dry them off. 3. KEEP A ROADSIDE EMERGENCY KIT HANDY Sometimes, no matter how careful you are on the road, accidents and vehicle malfunctions happen, especially in wet severe weather. That’s why it is extremely important to keep emergency supplies ready in the trunk for the worst case scenario. You can buy a preassembled one, but it is cheaper (and more rewarding) to assemble your own. What should you include? Edmunds.com provides an excellent comprehensive list of items, a few of which include: 12-foot jumper cables Four 15 minute road flares Two quarts of oil A gallon of antifreeze A first-aid kit. Find the rest of the list here We hope that this series has given you helpful safety insights and tips for driving in the rain! Remember that American Pride Automotive is always here to help and ready to answer any and all of your auto repair and maintenance questions! Call or contact us today.
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