Programming My Car

It happens to the best of us.  Even if you have taken all precautions and followed all maintenance tips, there is still a chance that your engine will overheat.  The reason of course is that fuel is being burned inside the engine and it is the job of the cooling system to keep it in the right operating temperature.

And it is also the task of your temperature gauge and warning light to warn you if you are running the risk of overheating your engine.  And if you see that warning light, well, lighting up, here's what to do according to this site:

• Stop driving immediately, pull over to the side of the road, shut the engine off and wait for things to cool down.
• After things have cooled down (wait at least half an hour or more), then you can open the radiator cap and check the coolant level if you think it might be low. Place a rag over the cap first, and slowly turn the cap until it stops at the first detent. This should allow residual pressure to be released. Wait until all pressure has been released before removing the cap the rest of the way.
• Add water to the radiator if it is low. Actually, you should add a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and water to maintain the proper freezing, boilover and corrosion protection. But in most cases when this happens, it’s an emergency situation and you don’t have a jug of antifreeze handy. If that’s the case, you’ll have to add antifreeze later.
• Visually inspect the system for leaks. Common leak points include radiator and heater hoses, the water pump and the radiator. Internal leaks (such as a crack in the head or engine) can’t be seen and can only be diagnosed by pressure testing the cooling system.