My car starts to run hot if I cannot maintain a consistent speed where air is moving across the engine.
My car has started to run hot when I cannot maintain a consistent speed where air is moving across the engine. This is especially true in the current hot weather. If I am on the highway and moving I am fine, the temp stays in the normal range but if I get into a situation where I am stopped in traffic or at a red light and no air is moving across the engine, the temperature gauge starts to creep up towards hot. If I turn my A/C off, that helps right away or if I start going again and get air movement the temp comes back down. What is causing this? Is my thermostat going bad? How much doe
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hey there, your car has an electric cooling fan. It should start automatically when the engine gets to a certain temperature or when you switch the A/C is on. In hot weather with the A/C on, the fan should switch to a higher speed. If the fan is not coming on, or is switching to high speed with the A/C on, that would cause a run hot condition.
Here is a simple check: open the hood and start the car with the A/C off. Depending on the temperature, the electric fan on the radiator should not be running. Switch the A/C on. The fan should come on within 30 seconds if it is hot outside. If it does not, then it could be a bad fan relay or temperature sending switch. The cost of repair will depend on the part that is faulty. If you need help having this checked, a certified professional from YourMechanic can inspect the slight overheating issue and make adjustments to prevent further issues.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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One of the most common reasons why your engine overheats when your AC is on is a faulty engine cooling fan, fan switch, or fan motor. A bad engine coolant sensor, an overloaded AC compressor, a broken water pump, and blocked AC condenser fins can also create overheating issues.
Low Coolant: Perhaps the most common reason for your car to overheat quickly is low coolant in the engine. If there isn`t enough coolant, the engine`s temperature cannot be regulated correctly.
The car air conditioner condenser is a radiator positioned between the car`s grille and the engine cooling radiator. Check the AC condenser first. If you see your car`s AC condenser is clogged or blocked, it will not work properly and will cause your car to overheat.
The air conditioner can cause an engine to overheat quickly because it makes the engine work harder. Even though it`s hot outside, if you turn off the AC, you may be able to avoid overheating, especially if you take the next step, which we apologize for in advance.
Replenish Low Refrigerant
Low refrigerant is one of the most common causes of A/C blowing hot. Even though your A/C system is supposed to be a “closed system” — meaning the pressure inside the system isn`t affected by outside atmospheric pressure — it may lose effectiveness over time.
High coolant temperatures can lead to poor engine performance and premature component wear – resulting in engine damage or failure. High engine temperatures can quickly increase your engine oil temperatures and lead to poor lubrication. As the oil temperature rises, its viscosity decreases, making it thinner.
Turn Off the Air Conditioner
It may seem counterintuitive, but when you`re trying to prevent overheating, it may help to turn off your car`s air conditioner. The energy required to power the AC can overload your engine. Then, it can exacerbate an overheating problem.
Yes, it does.
The AC powers itself using the engine which puts an extra load on the engine making it use more fuel. However, in a small speed frame, it will consume less fuel than running the car with windows down.
Not having the fan blades installed in a correct position can result in a lack of airflow and cause the motor to overheat. Lack of maintenance. If the motor has not been lubricated, or the unit kept clean, this can lead to overheating problems.
Why is my Maxima A/C blowing hot air? If your car`s air conditioning isn`t blowing cold air at all (or it tries, then turns warm), you could have a clogged expansion valve, a faulty compressor clutch, a leak, or a malfunctioning fuse in the system.
Your vehicle`s AC not working is caused by a freon leak or a bad compressor. Though these might be the easy to spot reasons for your AC not working inside the vehicle, a dirty cabin filter or a bad belt may also be the culprit.
The most common causes of broken air conditioning leaks or compression issues. If you are feeling cool — but not cold — air, the issue could be a clogged filter, a problem with the cooling fan, signs of radiator trouble, or it could simply mean it`s time to recharge your AC.
Poor fuel efficiency: A faulty thermostat can cause the engine to run too hot or too cold, affecting fuel efficiency.
Standard thermostats: Enlist a friend or family member to assist, Position one person by the thermostat and one person by the furnace. Slowly turn the thermostat from off to heat and increase the temperature. Both the thermostat and furnace should make a sound.
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.
May cause overheating. Also, a dirty air filter will not be able to provide the oxygen needed to provide a proper air-fuel mix. This can cause the temperature of your engine to rise to dangerous levels. Eventually, your vehicle`s engine could overheat which could lead you to the side of the road.
For the health of the air compressor, the temperature at the discharge line should never exceed 225 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything hotter at the discharge line would put the discharge port dangerously above the 300 degrees Fahrenheit level.
A seized a/c compressor can certainly make the engine difficult to start, if not start at all. To describe it in simple terms, the a/c compressor is similar to a mini engine.
Check to see that the cooling fans on the condenser or radiator are running when the air –conditioning is on. Look for any restrictions like leaves, bugs or dirt that would keep air from passing over the condenser. Check the cabin air filter to ensure that it is not clogged.
Engine overheating typically occurs if the engine cooling thermostat has failed, the water pump, or drive belt, has a problem, there`s a blockage in cooling passages, including through the radiator, cooling fans don`t work, the engine is out of tune, the head gasket(s) leak, coolant is leaking and thus the coolant …
There are a variety of reasons that a vehicle can overheat, such as cooling system leaks, blocked hoses from corrosion and mineral deposits, radiator issues or broken water pumps. Regular inspections may help avoid overheating issues down the road.
The most common causes of broken air conditioning are leaks or compressor issues. If your air is blowing cool but not cold, the problem could be a clogged filter, cooling fan problem, radiator trouble, or it could simply be that you need to recharge your AC.
The short answer is yes, coolant can affect air conditioning performance in a number of ways. Typically, coolant can affect your AC`s temperature, humidity, and airflow. Your AC`s temperature may be affected by the proximity of your car`s interior to your engine.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
My car starts to run hot if I cannot maintain a consistent speed where air is moving across the engine.
ANSWER : Hey there, your car has an electric cooling fan. It should start automatically when the engine gets to a certain temperature or when you switch the A/C is on. In hot weather with the A/C on, the fan should switch to a higher speed. If the fan is not coming on, or is switching to high speed with the A/C on, that would cause a run hot condition.
Here is a simple check: open the hood and start the car with the A/C off. Depending on the temperature, the electric fan on the radiator should not be running. Switch the A/C on. The fan should come on within 30 seconds if it is hot outside. If it does not, then it could be a bad fan relay or temperature sending switch. The cost of repair will depend on the part that is faulty. If you need help having this checked, a certified professional from YourMechanic can inspect the slight overheating issue and make adjustments to prevent further issues.
My car will not start Intermittently. I purchased a new battery 2 weeks ago and yesterday the car wouldn’t start. Got a jump and
ANSWER : The issue you are having is probably due to an intermittent fault in the starter motor itself or a deficiency in the starter electrical circuit, for example a large voltage drop due to a poor ground or a high resistance connection. These issues can be readily diagnosed and resolved on a mobile basis if you request a hard starting diagnostic. If you request that diagnostic, the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you promptly. Based on Toyota’s Factory Service Manual, the battery should not be disconnected if the vehicle engine is running. The battery acts as a large resistive voltage sink and consequently taking the battery out of the circuit, while the alternator is still running, can create a voltage spike on the car’s electrical system which is not good for voltage sensitive components such as the engine computer. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
After you sit with the car running, the car starts smoking and eventually starts shaking
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. It all depends where the smoke is coming from. If it is from the exhaust then your engine be running rich and starting to foul out the spark plugs. Have the computer tested to see if any codes are present that could indicate what is causing the smoke. If you see smoke from the engine compartment then you may be running the engine hot due to low airflow over the radiator. Have the cooling fan checked to make sure it is running. If it is running and the vehicle has the AC running and the blower is on or near high then you may be using more energy than the alternator can keep up with. This can cause the radiator fan to not turn as fast as it should and let the temperature to rise if idled for long periods. If you would like help, consider having an expert automotive technician from YourMechanic come to your home or office to inspect and diagnose this issue for you, and make or suggest any repairs as needed.
My car will be starting perfect and when the gas tank gets lower it will start having problems .
ANSWER : Based on the information you gave, it sounds like a possible fuel starvation issue, caused by a partially blocked, in-tank fuel filter or a crack in the fuel pump housing. The remedy would be to replace the fuel pump assembly and filter. The overheating may be caused by several things, including a stuck thermostat, faulty water pump, or even a cracked head gasket. I suggest having a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, inspect the relevant systems to pinpoint the cause of your vehicle’s hard starting issue and overheating problem.
Car won’t start after seeing engine hot turn a/c off warning light.
ANSWER : Hi there. Check the battery cables and make sure that they are tight and clean. Then check the battery voltage and see if it has a voltage of 12.6 or 12.4. If the battery is less than that, then the battery needs charged. If the battery has 12.4 volts or higher, then place a load tester on the battery and see if the battery can hold a charge when a load is applied. If the battery drops under 9.6 volts, then the battery is no good and needs replaced. If the battery drops to 11.5 volts, then there is a dry cell and possible a burned cell and the battery needs replaced. If you need further assistance with testing your car battery, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
While driving at a speed of 40 mph all at a sudden the car speed dropped to 10 mph and stopped with solid check engine light
ANSWER : Hello. Warning lights accompanied with stalling can be caused by many things. If the oil is low I would go ahead and top it off to prevent the possibility of engine damage, however, it is unlikely that low oil is what caused the stalling. Stalling is most commonly caused by issues with the ignition, engine management, or fuel systems. If one of the components, such as a major sensor, the fuel pump, or the ignition coil, go out or have an issue they can cause the engine to stall. If the vehicle is no longer starting then it may be possible that there is an issue with the electrical system as well, perhaps a faulty battery or alternator. If the alternator goes out it will eventually drain the battery, which could also cause stalling. Scanning the computer for trouble codes, once the vehicle is started, will likely reveal some insight into what the issue may be. As the possibilities could be many, I would recommend having a professional technician, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your location diagnose what may have caused your vehicle to stall.
Car started shaking. Cleaned carb and air filter. Now it starts, runs, dies, or starts and dies.
ANSWER : Hello. The stalling issues you are having may by caused by a variety of issues. Typically these symptoms can be blamed on fuel, spark, or air. Fuel and spark being the most common systems to fail. Starting with the air filter and cleaning the carburetor were good steps to start. You need to take a better look at the spark system. The spark wires can be tested to make sure the plugs are receiving the voltage that they need to be. You can also test the fuel system by spraying some starter fluid into the air intake. If this helps the engine start and run better than before, then you know you have a fuel delivery issue. This may include the fuel pump, fuel filter, injectors, or a clogged fuel line. The shaking is due to the improper combustion happening in the engine. This will be corrected when the engine is running properly. More testing is the only way to know definitively what the issue is.
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.
