Things to Do When Your Car Overheats

You've seen them on the side of the road. Cars with the hoods up, steam pouring from under it and the drivers standing helplessly by. If you're lucky, you might have access to coolant or water to put into the overheated radiator after it's cooled down. If not, however, you're stuck by the road with an overheated car.

Remember, if you're driving continually for hundreds of miles you run the risk of overheating.
It's recommended to pull over and let the vehicle rest a few minutes every hour or so - it will add time to your drive, but could save you time in the long run if you can keep the vehicle from overheating.

If you find yourself in a position where you think your car is overheating, here's what to do:

1. Turn on the heat as high as it will go as this will help drop the temperature dramatically and may keep the vehicle from going into complete overheating mode.
2. Add antifreeze, or water to dilute what antifreeze is left.
3. If your radiator is full of coolant, your car could be overheating because of improperly fitting hoses. Always check to make certain the hoses are fitting properly and that none of them are worn out before starting a trip.
4. If stuck in traffic when the engine starts to go, keep distance between you and the other vehicles. You need proper airflow into your vehicle's engine and assembly to help prevent overheating.
5. Always be sure you have packed a few essentials in your vehicle: flashlight, antifreeze and water. Also keep a white flag or hazard "triangles" to place behind your vehicle to make it more visible to oncoming traffic.
6. If your vehicle has an auto warranty, keep that information handy in case you need it if your car breaks down or overheats on your trip.