5 Signs it's Time for Radiator Repair

The cooling system of your vehicle has an important job. It is tasked with ensuring that the engine does not melt itself, quite literally. This system consists of the radiator, a fan, a water pump, a thermostat and a belt and series of hoses. If any of these parts fail you will soon find your car overheating. This will lead to massive engine damage if it is not quickly dealt with. The following 5 symptoms of trouble should lead you to quickly make an appointment with the local auto shop for radiator or cooling system repair.

Rising dashboard temperature gauge

It is important to always pay attention to the signals of your dashboard, as they will tell you much about your car's current condition. One gauge, the temperature gauge, will inform you if your car's engine is running hot. If the needle in the gauge, or whatever style it is, rises to the hot zone don't hesitate to reach out to a mechanic before you run into any of the following problems.

White steam coming from the hood

Should your engine begin to cook it will likely produce white steam, which is essentially the coolant boiling away. This gas will be visible as it pours out from under your hood. Pull over as soon as it is safe and legal to do so and shut off your car. You'll want to contact your mechanic to figure out what the best way to proceed is, as sometimes filling the radiator with water will allow you to continue for some times while in other scenarios a tow may be better.

Low coolant levels

On occasion be sure to check the fluid levels of your vehicle, including the coolant. If it is found that the coolant is low than there is more than likely some sort of leak. It may be an internal leak, which would result in the next issue, or an external leak, leading to the last issue in this entry.

High levels of white exhaust

If your car is producing large amounts of white exhaust it may be due to coolant leaking into the combustion chamber and being burned up with the gasoline. This is going to eventually lead to your car overheating so be sure to have the issue properly diagnosed as soon as possible.

Visible Coolant Leak

Have you found a bright green substance dripping from the forward part of your vehicle? You've just discovered a coolant leak. To be sure your car does'nt suffer from overheating complications, which can include a blown head gasket or a cracked block be sure to get to the auto shop right away.

At Austin Auto Repair we offer expert cooling system and radiator repair in Austin for most makes and models of import and domestic vehicles. Our full service auto repair shop is staffed by knowledgeable technicians who are eager to help. The next time your car needs repair or auto maintenance in Austin don't hesitate to make an appointment by calling (512) 865-6217 today!

Austin Auto Repair Blog

Written and Published By MORBiZ