Riverside summers and stop-and-go traffic on the 91 are hard on cooling systems. When the temperature gauge starts climbing, what you do in the next few minutes matters more than anything else.
What to do right now
- Turn off the A/C. It adds load and heat to the engine
- Turn the heater on full. It pulls some heat away from the engine
- Pull over when it's safe and shut the engine off if the gauge is in the red
- Don't open the radiator cap while the engine is hot. The system is under pressure and can spray scalding coolant
Reading the clues
| What you notice | Common cause |
|---|---|
| Overheats in traffic, fine on the freeway | Cooling fan not turning on |
| Overheats on the freeway too | Low coolant, a clogged radiator, or a stuck thermostat |
| Sweet smell or a colored puddle | Coolant leak from a hose, radiator, or water pump |
| Heater blows cold while the engine is hot | Very low coolant or an air pocket |
| Coolant disappears with no visible leak | Possible head gasket. Needs testing |
Why it gets expensive fast
Aluminum cylinder heads can warp when an engine runs hot, and a warped head often means a head gasket job. Catching a leaking hose or a failed fan early is usually a short repair. Driving on it is how a small bill becomes a big one.
Most cooling repairs happen on site
Radiators, hoses, thermostats, fans, and many water pumps can be replaced in your driveway. We pressure-test first so we fix the actual leak. See cooling system repair.
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