Why Is My Car Overheating?

If your car has all of a sudden got suspiciously hot, you might ask yourself, “Why is my car overheating?” There are a few reasons a car would overheat that all Traverse City drivers should be aware of. But, what does it mean when your car overheats? It means that your car’s vehicle temperature gauge is far higher than normal when operating.

Read on to learn more about what causes a car to overheat and what to do when a car overheats with our service center at Serra Volvo of Traverse City.

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What Does It Mean When Your Car Overheats?

Before we dive into what to do when a car overheats, let’s first answer, “What does it mean when your car overheats?” If your car overheats as you’re cruising through Garfield Township, it usually means a bigger issue is happening, so schedule an appointment quickly. Here are a few reasons a car would overheat:

• Leak in a cooling system – Many times a leak in your cooling system causes your vehicle to overheat. It could be your radiator, hoses, water pump, head gasket, and thermostat housing.

• Coolant – If the wrong coolant was in your vehicle or you have an improper water-to-coolant ratio, chances to overheat increase.

• Coolant hose blockage – The coolant hose blockage usually stems from dirt and debris getting trapped in your cooling system on Interlochen roads. 

• Radiator Issues – Radiator issues are one of the main reasons a car would overheat since a leak or blockage could be the culprit. There could even be an issue with your radiator fan.

• Broken water pump – A shifted pump shaft or a leak in the water pump that is leading to the vehicle overheating.

What to Do When a Car Overheats

It can be scary when your car overheats out in Kalkaska especially if you’re by yourself. Learning what to do when a car overheats now that you know what causes a car to overheat, is very important: 

• Turn your heat on full blast to pull heat off your engine. 
• Pull over in a safe area then pop the hood with your hand for 30 minutes 
• Call a tow service to bring the vehicle in for service. 

Get Service at Serra Volvo Cars of Traverse City!

Now that we’ve answered, “Why is my car overheating?” And provided reasons a car would overheat, contact us at Serra Volvo of Traverse City with questions!