If your car’s engine is overheating chances are your air conditioner has also stopped working. Your car’s interior warning lights will have a temperature gauge that will indicate “hot” as well. There are many reasons a car can begin to overheat including, hot weather, a bad thermostat, loose wire, warn out hose, broken water pump, etc. Regardless of why your engine is overheating, the best plan of action is to turn your car off and let it cool down. Driving with a car that indicates a hot engine can cause the engine to fail completely. Although the cause a car to overheat can vary, there are also some common issues.
Radiator Leak
You filled up your radiator with engine coolant/anti-freeze but it is always low? When you can’t keep the engine coolant levelled up then you have a leak in your heating and cooling system. Finding the leak will be easy or difficult. For example, an easy leak to find is a hole in your radiator. By simply pouring water or engine coolant directly into the radiator and seeing where it’s leaking from. However, finding a leaky radiator hose is a more difficult challenge and one that may require an auto repair shop.
Hose Replacement
Over time a car’s engine’s cooling system will age. With age comes corrosion. The radiator is made of metal so it will not wear down like the hoses and clamps will. Hoses are made of heat resistant material, but after years of use the hoses can crack and the clamps can break. When one or all of your radiator hoses need to be replaced your engine will overheat, especially in the desert heat of Las Vegas NV.
Failed Water Pump
More serious issues with your engine’s cooling system will need an auto mechanic shop. A failed water pump will be an expensive repair but it can happen. The water pump is a mechanical part that pumps the engine coolant/anti-freeze into your car’s system so that it does not overheat. A bad water pump can be caused from dirt and grim or a mechanical issue. Whether it’s a water pump or a loose hose, get your heating system serviced before it blows your engine!
