What To Do When Your Car Overheats
You’ve packed your SUV full of luggage and your family and you’re heading down the highway on a long road trip. Because it’s a hot summer day, you have the air-conditioning on full-blast as you enjoy music from the audio system. Suddenly, the engine starts smoking. What do you do now?
Signs of an Overheating Engine
An overheating engine can reveal one or more of the following signs.:
- The needle on your dashboard temperature gauge rushes to the red part. Because dashboard gauges differ, you may need to look at your owner’s manual to find the gauge that indicates engine temperature.
- An unusual smell wafts in from the engine area. The cause can include leaking coolant or oil that is burning on hot engine components.
- The most obvious sign is thick steam or smoke rising from under the car hood.
As soon as you notice any of these signs, do the following steps immediately. Waiting may cause the heat to do irreversible damage to your engine.
What to Do
1. Turn Off the Air-Conditioning and Turn Up the Heat.
Do not panic. Take some deep breathes as you decide what to do.
One of the biggest stresses on your engine is the air-conditioning, so turn off cooling immediately. Turn up the heat to help move hot air from the engine into the cabin. Open all your windows to prevent you and your passengers from overheating.
2. Pull Over Immediately
By doing step 1, you will buy yourself a few minutes to find a safe place to pull over. Shut down the engine immediately.
3. Let the Engine Cool
Allow the engine to cool down for 15 minutes or more. The needle on the temperature gauge should move from red to the normal range while cooling is happening. Never open the hood immediately after you pull over. The engine compartment can spew steam and hot fluids onto your face and body that can cause burns.
4. Check the Coolant Level
Look through your owner’s manual to find out where the coolant reservoir is located. Now open the hood and check the reservoir. If it is low, add coolant if you have it. This not only protects the engine but may allow you to drive your vehicle to a mechanic for repairs.
If you must, you can also add coolant to the radiator. But you must wait longer for this component to cool down or heated fluid may splash out to harm you. Use a towel or rag to cover the radiator cap. Loosen it by a quarter of a turn to allow pressure from heated and expanded coolant to release. You can then open the cap and add a mix of coolant and water until the full line. Don’t forget to replace the cap.
If your problem is a clogged or leaking coolant hose, or a busted water pump or radiator, filling the reservoir won’t help.
5. Restart the Engine
Start the engine and drive to the nearest auto mechanic, if you can. Keep watching the temperature gauge. If it starts to overheat again, pull over and wait for it to cool down.
6. Get Help
If you bought your new Cadillac at Coulter Camelback Cadillac in Phoenix, AZ, you’re entitled to six years or 70,000 miles of 24/7 roadside assistance, which is part of Cadillac Premium Care. Contact the toll-free 800 number.
They can send a truck to tow you for free to the nearest Cadillac dealer, which we hope will be with us. Factory-certified automotive techs can then determine what’s wrong with your vehicle and make repairs. Part of the Premium Care benefit also includes an alternative means of transportation or reimbursement for transportation expenses. You may then be able to continue with your journey.
Preventing an Overheated Engine
You can prevent the engine from overheating in the first place is to undergo the recommended maintenance checks, which include coolant flushes and radiator maintenance. Remember that Cadillac Premium Care offers the first scheduled maintenance visit for free within the first year or 12,000 miles. You can also sign up for additional maintenance plans with us. Contact one of our knowledgeable sales consultants for more information.
