If you have ever had a car that is overheating, you know how scary and stressful it can be. You should not continue driving down the road if you notice signs like the temperature gauge rising or smoke coming out from under the hood. You need to follow these instructions if you think your car is overheating.
Turn Off the Air Conditioner
A common reason for a car to be overheating is due to the engine getting too hot from the weather outside. You probably have your car's air conditioner running to cool it off inside, but this puts more stress on the engine, causing it to heat up even more. Turn off your air conditioner and open the windows instead. You can also try turning on the heater in your car, as this will cause the heat to come inside your car instead of sending more heat to the engine.
Pull the Car Over
If your car is still overheating at this point, it is time to pull over. You need to cool off your engine before you do anything else. It is much too dangerous to drive with the car still overheating, as it can cause permanent damage that requires an extensive and pricey fix. Try to find a safe place to pull over as soon as possible. Turn off the engine and pop the hood from inside the car, but don't do anything else until the engine has cooled more. After several minutes when you think it has cooled off, you can take a look under the hood.
Look For Signs of a Leak
Another common cause for overheating is when you have a leak of water or coolant. When everything is completely cool, you can take a look at the water reservoir to see if it is empty. If it is, that is probably where the problem is coming from. Your car is probably too hot to do much else, so make sure you don't touch the engine or radiator. If you see liquid pouring out from underneath your car, especially green liquid, then you likely have a leak of antifreeze that is causing the overheating.
Call a Tow Truck
If you have a leak or another mechanical issue causing the car to overheat, it is likely going to continue doing so when you turn the car back on. The best thing you can do is call a tow company like Stuckman Salvage, Inc. and have them bring your car to a local mechanic.
