Why Is My Car Overheating?

Overheating problems are catastrophic because they result in your car being immobilized. This is a "stuck on the side of the road" situation that results in the immediate need for professional towing and care. If you're lucky enough for the vehicle to cool down and survive the first overheat, don't delay in bringing your car in for service at Midway Nissan right away. We'll explore the causes for this failure.

Radiator

Your radiator is a component that works with fans and other tools to remove heat from inside the engine and bring it outside. If it begins to leak coolant or if its fans break, your vehicle might overheat. Radiator issues are one of the most common culprits behind overheating.

Thermostat Collapse

The thermostat on your vehicle reads out accurate temperatures, and then other components use that readout to deliver the right amount of coolant to appropriate parts (such as your engine). If something breaks down your thermostat and your vehicle has the wrong temperature, it can incorrectly assume that it has enough coolant when it doesn't. Due to the lack of coolant, your car will overheat.

Water Pump

The water pump pumps coolant out. If something inside the water pump breaks, the coolant no longer circulates, leaving your vehicle quickly overheated (and you stranded). Other signs of a bad water pump are steam emitting from your radiator.

Coolant System Failures

Your coolant system is, as the name implies, what keeps your components cool and free from catastrophic levels of heat. If there's a leak in the coolant system, your coolant will leak out (sometimes around the thermostat, sometimes under the vehicle itself). Look for puddles under your car to verify a coolant leak.

Bad Belts and Hoses

Your hoses and belts keep things flowing along nicely until something goes wrong. Hoses deliver coolant, and belts keep components moving and not grinding to create friction and more heat. If these components malfunction, your vehicle might overheat. Other catastrophic events can happen if your belts snap or your hoses become leaky. For example, steam might begin rising from your engine, or your air conditioner might stop working altogether.

An overheating vehicle is one of the most common things we see here at Midway Nissan. If you catch the problem early, our professionals can quickly remedy things for you before total engine failure and get your Nissan back out on the road and cooled down.