Resolve your Car Overheating Issues
Summers are almost upon us and like many others in California, we will have to deal with car baking in the parking lot when we go out during noon. Can you imagine the A/C not working in 80 degrees!! The truth is that our car’s cooling system not only keeps the passengers cool, but, also the engine and everything under the hood. So, a car overheating problem can be serious!
Car overheating is a common problem that may happen in any car or truck be it Toyota, Chevrolet, Fiat or Honda!
The reason could be a thermostat malfunction, radiator not functioning, a possible leak in the Air conditioning, or a broken fan. We will talk about how to repair your car when any of these conditions arise.
An automobile’s cooling arrangement is actually a collection of components that blow coolant through the engine to absorb heat, and circulating this air around the coolant. If any part of the the component stops working, it is not good news either for you or your steaming engine.
Lets first understand WHY a car overheats or the A/C doesnt function.
1. Stuck Theromostat leads to Car Overheating:
According to statistics, the number one cause for a car overheating is a stuck thermostat, broken thermostat, or defective thermostat. It can stick or freeze in the closed position blocking the flow of coolant to your engine. You can check if your thermostat is not open or stuck is to feel the upper radiator hose. Once the engine warms up, it should start functioning. If it does not warm, the thermostat is probably not opening.
2. Leak in Car’s Air Conditioning
A leak in your cars air conditioning can also cause the cooling to be ineffective. If your vehicle is loosing coolant there will not be enough left in the vehicle to keep it cool. This is easy to diagnose as the radiator will be low on fluid and there will probably be a pool of coolant on the floor of your garage. Look for leaks in the most common places like around hoses and around the welds of your radiator. If you can not find the leak you might need to take it to a shop to have the cooling system pressure tested.
3. Car overheats due to broken water pump
A faulty water pump can also cause the car to overheat. The water pump is a vital part of your cooling system since it is responsible for circulating coolant through your engine. With a faulty water pump your vehicle will not run for more than a few minutes without overheating.
4. Car doesnt cool due to defective cooling fan
The fourth cause of overheating is a bad cooling fan. There are two types of fans, electric and mechanical. The electric fan should come on automatically once the vehicle reaches operating temperature or when the A/C is turned on. If it doesn’t you should have it replaced. The mechanical fan will run all of the time but has a clutch which makes it turn faster when the engine heats up. With the car turned off the fan should not turn too easily especially when the vehicle is warm. You can also check for signs of leakage from the fan clutch. If you see any problems have it replaced.
5. Radiator Issues
The fifth cause of overheating I will talk about is a clogged radiator. Over time the radiator can accumulate deposits of rust and debris. This is especially true if radiator fluid has not been flushed on a regular basis. If you suspect a clogged radiator you should take it to a shop to have it professionally cleaned.
Those are some of the most common cause for car overheating. Dont forget, Car overheating can cause a great deal of damage to your vehicle, adding to expensive repair bills. If you have had bad service from your car dealer, you can also contact Bureau of Automotive Repair.
For consumer help for broken cars, car dealership issues, you can also contact Letterchamp Car Consumer Helpline.
Car AC not working
