Why did my 2014 cruze over heat out of no where and spray colent everywhere

Overheated and sprayed antifreeze everywhere and now my heater don't work at all

My car has 130000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
What you are describing could be due to a sudden coolant leak (a broken hose, for instance) that caused overheating or the overheating occurred first and that itself caused a hose to burst or the radiator pressure cap to open to relieve high pressure due to the overheating. As far as the sudden no heat in the cabin, once the cooling system "opened" and coolant flowed out, there was probably inadequate coolant to flow through the heater core (in the dash) and that is why you noticed no heat. If you desire that this problem be diagnosed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request an engine overheating diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here 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. Coolant leak (water pump, radiator, hose etc.)
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.
A Blown Head Gasket

A leaky or blown head gasket lets air into the cooling system, which ultimately can cause the coolant to boil. Other symptoms of a failing or blown head gasket include air bubbles in the coolant and foaming around the coolant reservoir or expansion reservoir.

Engines can overheat for many reasons. In general, it`s because something`s wrong within the cooling system and heat isn`t able to escape the engine compartment. The source of the issue could include a cooling system leak, faulty radiator fan, broken water pump, or clogged coolant hose.
Why is my car overheating but it has coolant in it? It could be that the coolant concentration is not correct, or you may have a bad thermostat, a failed water pump, broken drive belt, or a bad radiator or radiator fan.
Damaged Radiator Fan

So, when your vehicle comes to a stop, the radiator fan will kick in. This fan moves air across the radiator. If it`s broken, your car may begin to overheat when it`s idling, only to cool down again once you start moving.

Water by itself can`t do the job of antifreeze due to its lack of boiling and freezing point range and its inability to protect your vehicle`s engine. Plus, it doesn`t absorb heat as effectively. In the case of an absolute emergency, you can use water in your coolant rank.
It is thought to be a result of antifreeze leaking into the interior of the car. When the coolant hits the heater, it vaporizes, producing the bad odor.
Your car is overheating.

Lastly, a sure sign of a bad heater core is when your vehicle overheats. This could be due to a blown head gasket or a plugged heater core issue. Do not drive your vehicle if it continues to overheat, and make sure to bring it in to your local automotive repair shop as soon as possible!

Can a bad heater core cause overheating? Yes, a leaking heater core can cause a loss of coolant and subsequent engine overheating. Although not as common, it`s also possible for a heater core to become obstructed enough to restrict coolant flow and cause overheating.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Why did my 2014 cruze over heat out of no where and spray colent everywhere
ANSWER : What you are describing could be due to a sudden coolant leak (a broken hose, for instance) that caused overheating or the overheating occurred first and that itself caused a hose to burst or the radiator pressure cap to open to relieve high pressure due to the overheating. As far as the sudden no heat in the cabin, once the cooling system "opened" and coolant flowed out, there was probably inadequate coolant to flow through the heater core (in the dash) and that is why you noticed no heat. If you desire that this problem be diagnosed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request an engine overheating diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

A/C and heat are not working properly. Car blows heat in summer and cool air in winter.
ANSWER : Common causes of no cabin heat include malfunctioning blend door(s) (part of the in-dash ventilation network), a faulty or stuck heater control valve, a plugged heater core, stuck open engine cooling thermostat, collapsed hoses, and low coolant level. The cost to resolve the problem depends on which of the foregoing faults is the cause. If you desire a diagnostic to determine exactly why there is no cabin heat, please request a non functioning cabin heater diagnostic and the responding mechanic will come right to your location and get this resolved for you promptly.

With regard to your air conditioning system, if merely re-charging the system restored normal operation but the a/c ceased to function after a month or so, that scenario typically suggests a leak. Some leaks are really cheap to repair, like if a couple o-rings need to be replaced in system piping but if the leak is at the compressor shaft seal, that repair is more costly. It is not expensive to find the leak and diagnose the system and once the leak is found the mechanic can let you know of the exact cost to repair the leak and re-charge the system. If you desire that service please request an a/c system diagnostic – suspected refrigerant leak and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you

Heat inside car stays warm for minute then blows cold until I turn heat off for a minute and try again.
ANSWER : Hi there. The engine always at operating temperature leads me to believe, the thermostat is not the cause, for no heat inside the vehicle. There are several possibilities for no heat inside, the heater control valve is malfunctioning, the heater core is restricted, the temperature blend door actuator is malfunctioning. Replacing components without diagnoses, can be expensive and time consuming without resolution. I recommend having your vehicle’s inoperative heater be diagnosed and repaired by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic.

Car smoking under hood and spraying antifreeze everywhere, but not overheating
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. Either the bleeder screw was not properly tightened, or the bleeder screw (or worse yet possibly) the radiator is damaged and has begun leaking, and the fan is spraying the hot and high pressure coolant all over. Don’t take any comfort that the temperature gauge is not showing an overheating condition. If there is air in the cooling system, or the coolant has already boiled away from the sensor, it will NOT read accurately. You may have an overheating condition that is doing damage already. 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 heat and air turns on without a problem but does not blow very hard (heat blows harder than air). Rattling noise.
ANSWER : The heater and the air conditioner both use the same blower motor. However, Nissan does have two separate fuses for the same unit. One of them can be blown. There are also resistors in the system that can fail. There are several electrical tests that can be done, but depending on the condition, it may be more practice to change the entire unit. Due to the age of your vehicle, and the Juke’s history of blower motor issues, it’s very likely a simple fuse issue. These can (for the most part) be visually inspected, and are cheap.

Vehicle at running temp, turn on heat, no heat – stomp on gas, there is heat – ??? 2004 Jeep Liberty
ANSWER : Hello – regarding your lack of heater function unless the engine is revved up a bit, you have a coolant flow issue. This could be caused by a worn water pump (engine might be running warmer than normal?), a partially blocked heater control valve (adjustment problem or failed heater control switch), or clogged cooling system that simply has poor flow. I would recommend an inspection of the heater & cooling system 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.

Car heat is cold until I add water and over heating with out telling me
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. There seems to be an issue that we need to take on first and foremost. This is the fact that you are having to add coolant to the system. This means the coolant is leaking either externally (onto the hot engine), or internally (being consumed with the air/fuel mixture). The best way to tell is to simply run the vehicle and watch for the leak. If the engine is consuming the coolant, you are likely seeing white smoke from the exhaust. This is most commonly resolved by replacing the head gasket. Common components to look for an external leak with are the thermostat and the water pump. Both would cause the symptoms you are explaining. Fore more help with the issue, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.

Heater not working reliably, is it caused by a bad thermostat?
ANSWER : From what you’ve described, it sounds like you have a stuck open thermostat. I’d recommend replacing the thermostat to see if this is the cause of the slow heat up of the vehicle since it’s a relatively quick repair. In an area like that it sounds like you’ll will need the heat in the winter very badly and as soon as possible. I would also recommend getting a coolant flush as it may help clear any possible blockage in the heater core. To avoid any unnecessary repairs, consider YourMechanic, as one of our mobile technicians can come to your home or office to diagnose your heating issue and make the necessary repairs.