My car has temperature issues; Either the engine is under temperature or overheating.
I have a 2012 Chevy Cruz that just can't seem to operate at a normal engine temperature the car will either under heat overheat but he will never stay where it supposed to be I just recently changed out the thermostat checked all the hoses for leaks could not find any visible leaks. Other thing that the car does is the coolant tank will start to bubble and spit out the coolant and steam however on my temperature needle it will not display that the engine is overheating and when I open the hood to inspect The engine is cool or it's warm but not hot to the touch therefore the engine is
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi there. If the coolant reservoir is bubbling before the coolant is hot and before the engine begins to overheat, then there could be an issue with the head gasket. If there is a combustion gas leak in the cylinder and the head gasket is the cause, then exhaust gasses will enter the cooling system and cause excessive pressures and cause the system to boil before it’s even hot. Get a block tester from a local parts store and use the tool to check the vapors on the cooling system to see if there is exhaust gases in the cooling system. If there is exhaust gases in the cooling system, the chemical that is blue in color will change to a green or yellow color as you plunge the tool and suck up the air above the inlet spout to the coolant reservoir. If that is the case, then the head gasket will need to be replaced and the cylinder head will need to be checked for any cracks. If there is no exhaust gases in the cooling system, then there is excessive air in the system and could be caused by a failed water pump. If you need further assistance with your cooling system bubbling, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
The most common reasons a Chevrolet Cruze is overheating are a coolant leak (water pump, radiator, hose etc.), the radiator fan, or a failed thermostat.
Why does my Cruze`s engine overheat? There are two main causes for engine overheat: The coolant does not flow through the system like it should. There is not enough air flowing through the radiator.
2013 Chevy Cruze is Prone to Overheating and Loss of Power
The reason can be a faulty throttle body sensor, water pump, or even the PCV valve. Technicians have found that cracks in the PCV prevent air from getting in and out of the engine, causing severe turbo underboost. Overheating issues aren`t uncommon either.
There`s a leak in the cooling system – In most cases, a leak in the cooling system is what causes your car to overheat. The radiator, hoses, water pump, head gasket, and thermostat housing are all cooling system components and can be susceptible to leaks.
That said, a severely overheating engine can cause the cylinder walls or the pistons themselves to warp, bend and deform. This will cause the perfect seal between the piston and the rest of the engine to lose integrity. Oil could be forced past the piston rings and into the engine, where it will burn the oil.
Notes: 221 °F (105 °C), Engine coolant thermostat housing assembly.
Wait until the gauge moves back to the normal range or the light extinguishes before you open the hood. DON`T wait for it to get better on its own. An overheating engine won`t repair itself, and you should bring your car in to Jiffy Lube as soon as you can.
How long can a car overheat before damage occurs? It only takes 30-60 seconds of overheating for permanent damage to infiltrate a vehicle. As soon as you notice signs of overheating, you need to act. Failure to do so might result in troubles like coolant leaks, damaged radiator caps, and a faulty cooling fan.
Repeated overheating can be a sign of serious engine damage. Repeated use of an overheated engine can accelerate that damage rapidly. In extreme heat, core parts of the vehicle`s engine can crack, warp, and fail — resulting in instant death to your vehicle`s powerplant.
With the engine off, open your hood and locate the water pump pulley. With gloves on, grab it and wiggle it back and forth. There should be no movement, if there is, this along with the noise is a good indication you may have a water pump problem.
If the head gasket fails between a coolant channel and one of your engine`s combustion chambers, the engine may start to consume coolant. This can lead to the engine overheating, too, due to an insufficient coolant level.
If you notice that your engine overheats, the coolant temperature sensor could be the problem. At times, the coolant temperature switch may fail such that it starts transmitting hot signals permanently. This causes the computer to erroneously counterbalance the signal, thereby causing the engine to misfire or overheat.
If you find that you`ve got a car running hot but not overheating there might be a few reasons: Clogged or damaged radiator. Low coolant level. Damaged water pump or thermostat.
The 2012 Chevy Cruze has great safety scores, an upscale interior, pleasant handling, and refined engine options. However, the Cruze`s reliability rating and ownership costs keep it in the middle of the compact car class.
How Reliable are Chevy Cruzes? According to Engine Patrol, the Chevrolet Cruze can last up to 250,000 miles when driven responsibly and maintained correctly. Driving 15,000 miles yearly means your Chevy Cruze could last well over a decade before needing significant repairs.
Blown head gaskets can happen when an engine severely overheats due to a faulty thermostat, clogged radiator, leaking water pump, radiator, radiator hose or heater hoses or when the coolant in the cooling system is not changed per the O.E.M.`s scheduled maintenance.
Start your car`s engine and allow it to idle. Look through the radiator filler neck to see if the coolant flows. At this time, it should not be flowing as your car has not reached the operating temperature to cause the thermostat to open. If you find the coolant is flowing, it means the thermostat valve is open.
Driving your car when it`s overheating can cause serious – and sometimes permanent – damage to your engine, so it`s best to stop driving as soon as possible. Pull over and away from oncoming traffic, then turn off the engine. Open your hood (or call for help).
If your vehicle`s engine overheats, it could be due to failing spark plugs. Overheating can happen for a number of reasons that can cause your engine to be too hot. This can harm your engine parts and lead to expensive repairs down the line.
The furthest you can drive an overheating car is about a ¼ mile before you risk irreversible engine damage. While some vehicles could still make it as far as 20 miles, we would never recommend driving very far with an overheating engine.
Check the screen: Check the screen of the thermostat and make sure that it is lighted. A blank or unlighted screen could indicate a thermostat failure. Check the batteries: Many modern thermostats rely on battery power to operate. If the screen is blank or unlighted, a battery change could solve the problem.
What happens if you mix water with a 50/50 antifreeze? You`ll get a more diluted antifreeze which will allow freezing at a higher temperature than the original mix.
It gets even more concerning and confusing when car overheating suddenly returns to normal. This phenomenon can happen for many reasons, like a bad thermostat, a faulty radiator, or a coolant leak. As such, it`s best to get your car checked by a professional— like RepairSmith!
As soon as you notice an issue with your vehicle, the next course of action is to pull off the road to a safe and clear area and turn off the vehicle. If the vehicle is overheating, continuing to drive with a potentially damaged engine may cause permanent damage.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
My car has temperature issues; Either the engine is under temperature or overheating.
ANSWER : Hi there. If the coolant reservoir is bubbling before the coolant is hot and before the engine begins to overheat, then there could be an issue with the head gasket. If there is a combustion gas leak in the cylinder and the head gasket is the cause, then exhaust gasses will enter the cooling system and cause excessive pressures and cause the system to boil before it’s even hot. Get a block tester from a local parts store and use the tool to check the vapors on the cooling system to see if there is exhaust gases in the cooling system. If there is exhaust gases in the cooling system, the chemical that is blue in color will change to a green or yellow color as you plunge the tool and suck up the air above the inlet spout to the coolant reservoir. If that is the case, then the head gasket will need to be replaced and the cylinder head will need to be checked for any cracks. If there is no exhaust gases in the cooling system, then there is excessive air in the system and could be caused by a failed water pump. If you need further assistance with your cooling system bubbling, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Car not speeding up smoothly, service engine light on when first start driving and car vibrating
ANSWER : Hi There,
It sounds like you may have a dirty or faulty mass air flow sensor. The problem this can cause may also be compounded when the engine is cold due to the change in air density in cooler weather. The mass air flow sensor monitors air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the motor. This sensor relays information about fuel and air temperature, air speed entering the motor and many other things to the ECM which uses this to make adjustments to fuel supply to the motor. A dirty or faulty sensor can cause an imbalanced air/fuel load to be supplied to the motor which results in an over fueling or under fueling situation depending on the conditions. This type of inconsistent fuel supply to the motor may cause a hesitation, loss of power, a jerking reaction, potentially a bit of black exhaust smoke and typically a strong smell of fuel when this sensor is malfunctioning. I would suggest having a professional from Your Mechanic come to your home to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
It sounds like you may have a dirty or faulty mass air flow sensor. The problem this can cause may also be compounded when the engine is cold due to the change in air density in cooler weather. The mass air flow sensor monitors air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the motor. This sensor relays information about fuel and air temperature, air speed entering the motor and many other things to the ECM which uses this to make adjustments to fuel supply to the motor. A dirty or faulty sensor can cause an imbalanced air/fuel load to be supplied to the motor which results in an over fueling or under fueling situation depending on the conditions. This type of inconsistent fuel supply to the motor may cause a hesitation, loss of power, a jerking reaction, potentially a bit of black exhaust smoke and typically a strong smell of fuel when this sensor is malfunctioning. I would suggest having a professional from Your Mechanic come to your home to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
My heat in my car stopped working two days ago and now my car is overheating. I put antifreeze in my car and it’s still overheating 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix
ANSWER : Hi there – you may have 2 related events here, a coolant leak, and a problem with the heater system. The current issue may be air inside the cooling system, which can cause overheating, and a lack of heater function. The lack of heater function could have 5 causes: the engine is not getting up to correct temperature (center of the gauge) due to a malfunctioning thermostat, the heater control valve is not letting hot coolant into the heater core, there is a restriction in the heater system that is preventing adequate hot coolant flow through the heater core, the heater fan is not working to transfer heat from the heater core to warm air for the passenger compartment, or the air blend doors inside the heater are not working properly to route warm air to the desired vents. I would recommend a heater system inspection](https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/heater-is-not-working-inspection) by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.
My car overheated while on the highway. I added coolant and let the engine rest and cool down. Now the car will not start. How can
ANSWER : Hi there:
Unfortunately, there is no exact reason we can offer to you as to why the vehicle won’t start now after your overheating issue; without first inspecting the vehicle. However, if the vehicle overheated on the highway there is a high possibility that major engine damage has occurred, which is possibly why the vehicle won’t start now. This damage could include head gaskets being blown, which can cause coolant to enter the internal portions of the engine and lead to additional damage. The best thing for you to do is have your vehicle towed back home, then contact YourMechanic.com to have one of our professional mechanics complete a car is overheating inspection.
The engine of the car runs, but when I push the gas pedal it does not accelerate, and the engine does not rev.
ANSWER : Hello. It sounds like you may have an issue with your throttle position sensor. This sensor sends a reference voltage to your power-train control module, which uses that to determine ignition timing and fuel trims. If the power-train control module is not detecting the proper signal from the throttle position sensor, the engine may not accelerate properly. It’s probably a good idea for you to have a professional mobile mechanic come to your location and complete a car is slow to accelerate inspection first, so they can pinpoint what is causing this issue to occur and they will recommend the right repairs be completed.
Check engine light on brand new car
ANSWER : Hello. Thank you for writing in. A vehicle being that new should not have any kind of warning lights. If you think there is an operator error, look to your owners manual for more information about the vehicle. This is your best source for information about the way the vehicle is designed to perform. You likely have a warranty that will cover this. The burning smell is a definite sign that there is an issue. Even with an operator error, the engine should be fine. The parking brake however may be an issue. Make sure she is disengaging it. The engine only having 200 miles on it, is not broken in yet. The engine works best after around 1,000 miles. For an inspection into what the check engine light is trying to tell you, contact our service department.
My car overheated and now will not start. I believe I have a water pump issue and possibly a blown gasket.
ANSWER : A faulty water pump will not cause a failure to start. If the water pump is not working, all that will happen is after you start the car, the engine will overheat. If the head gasket has failed and coolant has leaked into the combustion chambers, that could cause a no start condition. I recommend you request an engine cooling system leak diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will see if there is an external or internal coolant leak. If there is no internal leak, for example at the head gasket, the cylinder compression should be tested. If compression is OK and there is no coolant in the cylinders, the only way to pinpoint the fault causing the no start is to perform a no start diagnostic. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Check engine light refuses to go off after engine replaced
ANSWER : Hello there, you have a long series of issues going on with your 2013 Hyundai Sonata. If you keep getting a repeating oil light on than there is likely a fault in that system.
Since this fault has lasted after the engine was replaced it could be a oil pressure sensor, wiring harness fault, ECU fault, oil pump, oil strainer clogged, or low oil pressure.
To diagnose this issue properly you need a complete vehicle inspection to start from square one and identify the root cause of all this.
