Imagine you’re driving through city traffic on your way to an important meeting—or better yet, heading out on a well-deserved vacation—when suddenly, your car starts acting strange. Smoke begins to rise from the hood, and you notice the temperature gauge climbing higher and higher.Yourvehicleisoverheating.
Butwhydoesithappen?
In this article, we’ll explore the most common causes of engine overheating and share practical tips on what to do if it happens to you while driving.
WhyDoes a Car EngineOverheat?
There are several possible reasons, but here are the most common ones:
Low or no coolantlevel
Brokenorfaultywaterpump
Thermostatmalfunction
Leaks in thecoolingsystem
Radiator blockage, dirt, ordamage
WarningSignsThatYour Car IsOverheating
Recognizing early symptoms can help you prevent serious damage. Keep an eye out for:
Lossofpower
Unusualorburningsmell
Smokeorsteamcomingfromthehood
Knockingorrattlingsounds
Temperature gauge in the red zoneorwarning light on
Whatto Do ifYour Car Overheats — 5 Simple Steps
1. Turnontheheater and open thewindows
Itmightsoundcounterintuitive, butturningontheheaterhelpsdrawheatawayfromtheengine, transferringitintothecabin. This can slightly reduce enginetemperature and giveyou time topulloversafely.
2. Pullover and turn off theengine
As soon as it’ssafe, pullovertothesideoftheroad and stop thevehicle.
Continuing to drive with an overheated engine can cause serious damage. If you can’t stop immediately, lower your speed and keep moving slowly so that air continues to flow through the radiator. Once you’ve stopped, switch off the engine.
3. Don’t open the hood right away — wait patiently
Avoidopeningthehoodwhiletheengineisstillhot. Steamorboilingcoolantcould escape and cause burns. Waituntilthetemperaturedropscompletelybeforecheckinganythingunderthehood.
4. Addcoolantonly once theengineisfullycool
Whentheengine has cooleddowncompletely, checkthecoolantlevel. Ifit’slow and youhave extra coolant, slowlyadd more accordingtoyourvehicle’s manual.
Never attempt this while the engine is hot — it could damage the system or cause serious burns.
5. Takeyourvehicleforinspection
Even if your car seems fine after adding coolant, don’t ignore the cause of the problem. Something triggered the overheating, and it could happen again or get worse over time.Werecommendvisitingyourauthorized Honda Jamaica dealershipfora fullinspection. A professional diagnosis willensureyourcoolingsystemisworkingproperly and helpyouavoidcostlyrepairslater.
Visit Your Honda Jamaica Service Center
When in doubt, visit our Honda Jamaica Service Center.We’ll gladly inspect your vehicle and make sure it’s in top condition to get you back on the road with confidence.
