Do you know what to do if your car suddenly starts to overheat? Depending on how bad the situation is, it might be a little nerve-wracking, especially if there’s a lot of steam and the car suddenly is way too hot. Clark’s Professional Car Care has some tips that can help if you are ever in this situation.
Don’t Keep Driving
You might be tempted to just keep driving if you’re noticing your car is starting to overheat. The problem is that continuing to run the car is just putting more heat on top of overheating. Whatever the problem is, continuing to drive is only going to make the problem worse. Pull over to a safe location away from traffic and pop the hood.
Let the Car Cool Down
Your next step is to let the car cool down at least a little bit before you try anything else. You need to wait at least a few minutes, but the time your car needs to cool down varies depending on how hot it got in the first place. If you’re able to get the hood fully opened, that’s going to help speed the cooling time.
Assess What’s Going on After it’s Cooled
Before you do anything else, you need to know what you’re up against, and the best way to do that is to turn your car to accessory mode without starting the engine. This should let you see your temperature gauge on the dashboard. If there aren’t any warning lights and the temperature has come way down, you may try to start the car.
Get Some Help
Take a quick peek at whether your car has any coolant in the reservoir. If there is still some coolant there, you may be able to drive the car. If there isn’t, you may need to wait for a tow. Regardless, the fact that your car is overheating is a big sign that there’s something wrong somewhere. It might be a mild issue, like replacing your antifreeze, or it might be a bigger issue. That’s something that an experienced auto technician can help you to diagnose.
Clark’s Professional Car Care in Pascagoula, MS wants you to be safe in your car at all times. If you’re noticing that your car is running hotter than normal or you’ve experienced some issues with overheating, call us today. We’ll be happy to look at what’s happening and let you know what repairs are necessary.
