It is a good idea for all drivers to know how to respond to specific situations that may pop up while out on the road. For example, you should know what to do if a tire suddenly goes flat and you have reduced control over the vehicle. Toward that end, you should also know how to respond if your vehicle overheats. Fortunately, this is not something that happens particularly often to modern vehicles. With that said, it still is a possibility, so you should have a plan of action in mind just in case.
With this article, we would like to provide some basic tips on what you should do when your car overheats. Of course, you always want to make sure the emphasis is on safety in these kinds of situations, so don't take any unnecessary risks and always seek help if you are unsure of what to do.
Get Off the Road
As you might imagine, getting your vehicle off the road safely is your first order of business when your engine is overheating. Do not attempt to keep driving for any length of time, as doing so is only going to lead to further trouble. Of course, it is not safe to just stop your car in the middle of the road, so immediately begin to look for safe places to pull off. This should be relatively easy to do when on a residential street or two-lane road through town, but it will be harder when on the freeway. Once you have your vehicle safely out of harm's way, turn the engine off and take a moment to assess your situation before taking any further action.
Don't Reach for the Hood!
One of the biggest mistakes you can make in this situation is to immediately get out of your vehicle to reach for the hood. Remember, the vehicle is overheating, and that hood is almost certain to be extremely hot! For now, you'll just need to leave it alone and let it cool. If you are not mechanically inclined and don't know what you are looking at when you open the hood of a vehicle, there is no point in taking this step, even after the engine has cooled. You'll want to call for help in the form of a tow truck or mechanic and let the professionals take it from there.
Taking a Look
If you are comfortable doing basic work on your vehicle, and you know what you are looking at under the hood, you can address this situation for yourself in the right circumstances. First, you need to make sure the hood has been given time to cool properly. Watch the temperature gauge on your dash and wait until it has drifted down into the 'cool' range. Once the hood is safely open, you'll want to check the level of coolant in the radiator.
This is another point where things can get a little dangerous. There is potentially a significant amount of steam built up in the radiator, and it could come rushing out as you twist off the cap. This is a serious danger as steam can be incredibly hot, and it may do damage if it contacts your hands or face. If you think the radiator is cool enough to open the cap, do so by using a towel or something else to protect your hand. Also, keep your head back as much as possible, and open the cap slowly.
An Important Refill
There is a good chance that your radiator will be low on coolant at this time. If that is the case, and you have coolant available, you can refill the radiator to the prescribed mark before replacing the cap. With the coolant properly refilled and the engine cooled down, you should now be able to attempt to restart your engine. Hopefully, the engine will start, and you will be able to get going once again.
Keep Close Watch
Assuming you do get back out on the road, it is important that you pay close attention to your temperature gauge as you drive down the road. Is it quickly heading back up into the hot range, or does it seem that you have fixed the problem by adding coolant? You don't want to repeat the issue of having the vehicle overheat, so drive conservatively at first and see how the temperature fares for a few miles. If you see anything that makes you uncomfortable with the condition of your vehicle, pull over safely and call for help. You don't want to push it with an overheating engine when you can have a qualified mechanic take a look and correct the problem properly.
Staying Ahead of the Game
This last point is not one that relates to how you should respond when your vehicle is overheating, but rather it has to do with staying out of this situation in the first place. If you periodically have your fluid levels checked as part of ongoing service, you'll be able to spot a problem and take action before an issue comes up on the roads. For instance, if your mechanic notices that your coolant level is a little low, it can be topped off easily in the shop as part of your visit. Just like that, you will have taken a big step toward avoiding issues during your day to day life in and around Ponderay.
With any luck, you won't need to deal with this issue in your vehicle anytime soon. If you do, we hope the tips above will at least give you some direction as you address the problem. Of course, if you have any repair or maintenance needs on your vehicle, the team at Taylor & Sons Chevrolet will be happy to assist. We have all of the knowledge and experience necessary to get the job done right, and you'll always receive a fair price. Contact us today to learn more!