What to do When Your Car Overheats

Giulia Nigrini
Giulia Nigrini
Vehicle Service Contract Specialist, Traveler, Car Enthusiast
June 10, 2022
4
min. read

Car engines unfortunately overheat sometimes. If you catch it in time you may be able to prevent permanent damage to the engine. It occurs when heat is unable to escape. Overheating can be caused by a number of things which include a cooling system leak, faulty radiator fan, broken water pump, or clogged coolant hose. However, this will have to be determined by a mechanic and that will ultimately dictate what you will need to do to repair your engine.

What are the Signs of Overheating?

If the temperature gauge on your dashboard goes to H, is red, or signifies in some way that the temperature is high. Check your owners manual to know where exactly to find this on your dashboard.

If you see steam, which will look like smoke, coming from under the hood of your car then there is a good chance that the engine is overheating.

A strange odor coming from your engine is also a good sign that you

What to Avoid Doing When Your Car Overheats?

If you find yourself in a situation where the engine begins to overheat the you should try to do the following:

  1. Do not panic. Try not to feel overwhelmed by the situation and concentrate on getting the car stopped safely and turn the engine off.
  2. Leave the hood down and do not open it up while the engine is still hot. If you do, steam might come up and burn you. So please be careful.
  3. Do not carry on driving the car once it begins overheating.

What to Do When Your Car Overheats?

If you find yourself in a situation where the engine begins to overheat the you should try to do the following:

  1. Turn off the air conditioner and push up the heat. This might assist in pulling heat away from the engine.
  2. Find a safe place to pull over to stop the vehicle and turn off the engine.
  3. Contact your provider for roadside assistance so that your car can be towed to the nearest workshop. Otherwise calling a friend or family member to assist while getting towing services. Starting the engine again is really a last resort and should only be attempted if absolutely necessary.

Why Investing in Extended Auto Protection is a Great Idea

Extended auto protection comes in the form of vehicle service contracts that can be found on the Chaiz website. Here you will be able to research, review and compare the different options available for your vehicle. The plans come in 3 different tiers that have flexible terms making it easy to choose the right plan for you. Each plan ensures that you get quick and reliable services in the event of a mechanical breakdown. Plus awesome roadside assistance that covers things like towing services. Other than that here are few other reasons it is a good idea:

Extended auto protection is designed to alleviate the stress of having the repair bills occurring under unforeseen circumstances. Taking into account that mechanical issues do tend to happen in an unpredictable way it may be beneficial to shop around for an extended car warranty that will suit your needs.

‍

Making Car Ownership Easier

Maintaining your vehicle is important for longevity as well as the resale value should you decide to sell one day. Our tips and advice column is all about getting you the information you need to keep your vehicle in good condition and improve the experience of vehicle ownership. For exceptional coverage in the event of a mechanical breakdown, choose Chaiz. Research and compare plans from providers throughout the country all at your own pace.
Get a Quote
Related Articles