Driving a vehicle with a defective cooling system will damage the engine of a car in minutes. The purpose of the cooling system is to control high temperatures inside the engine as the vehicle runs. The coolant circulates through the engine then travels to the radiator where it is cooled by the air that enters the grille of the vehicle. Problems with the cooling system can result in expensive repairs. You can prevent this by using troubleshooting techniques at the first sign of a problem.
Instructions
- 1
Check the coolant level in your vehicle if it is overheating. If there is insufficient coolant in the vehicle, overheating will occur while driving. Add the appropriate amount of coolant to the coolant reservoir.
2Inspect your vehicle's thermostat to determine if it is stuck. If your thermostat is stuck, your vehicle will overheat almost immediately after driving a short distance. Another way to check the thermostat is to start the car, open the hood and feel the radiator hose. If the lower part of the radiator hose is hot and the upper part is cool, the thermostat is stuck.
3Look at your fan belt to determine if it is broken or loose. Tighten the connections for the fan belt or replace it if necessary.
4Determine if the cooling system is clogged. Drain and flush the coolant from the cooling system to unclog it. Check the water pump to see if it is faulty and replace it if necessary.
