What Are Some Common Radiator Problems?

Blog

If your vehicle has been experiencing overheating, smoking, or a drop in pressure, it might have issues with the radiator. There are certain problems that tend to be more common with radiators, as listed below. If any of these issues are a concern to you, get your vehicle to a mechanic right away.

Leaks

Having a leak is one of the most common radiator issues, and also happens to be a sign that you have radiator problems. There are two places you might have a leak; the hoses leading to the radiator, and the radiator itself. This does happen most often with the hoses, which is often due to a hose having a crack or hole, or simply being worn and not working efficiently. If you see coolant leaking or have steam coming off your engine, it is likely due to a hose leak. You may also have the radiator leaking, which is a bigger and more expensive problem to fix. This is often due to a crack in the radiator, which requires replacing it. When a leak is causing your vehicle to overheat due to losing a lot of coolant, having it towed to a mechanic is a good idea.

Radiator Fan Issues

Another issue that is associated with radiator problems is when the radiator fan is not working properly. The radiator fan is responsible for keeping the engine cool when it is idling or driving at lower speeds, but if it is faulty, the air is not going through the radiator with help from the fan. A good sign that this is the problem is when your car operates just fine when driving on the freeway at high speeds, but then starts to overheat if you are at a stop sign or stoplight, or driving slowly through neighborhood streets.

Failed Thermostat

If your vehicle is overheating, the thermostat is sometimes to blame. The coolant that goes in and out of your radiator is controlled by the thermostat. If this thermostat starts to fail, it can't recognize when your radiator needs more coolant to keep the engine cool, which then results in your car overheating. This puts your vehicle at risk, requiring you to pull over and call for tow truck services. Chances are high that your mechanic will simply need to fix the thermostat instead of having something more serious wrong with the coolant system.

When you have issues with your radiator, it is best that you get your vehicle to a mechanic as soon as possible. If you don't feel comfortable driving there, call a tow truck for assistance. To find out more, speak with someone like Darryll's Towing. 

Share

8 June 2016