The radiator is obviously the most well-known part of the cooling system, but it's frequently not the culprit when it comes to a malfunction. Here are some of the most common repairs to a vehicle's cooling system:
Thermostat - The thermostat is the most common culprit when a vehicle overheats. The thermostat isn't part of the radiator itself, but a type of valve that controls how much coolant can flow into and out of the radiator. This helps keep the engine at optimum operating temperature. When the thermostat fails, the car begins to overheat very quickly.
Hoses - The most common source of a leak within the cooling system isn't the radiator, but the radiator hoses. The hoses link the radiator to the engine and allow coolant to flow between the two. Radiator hoses should be replaced periodically, whether they are working well or not. That's because they tend to become more prone to failure over time.
Cooling system not bled - Air can become trapped in the cooling system, which restricts the flow of coolant and reduces its efficiency. If your car seems to be running hot, you might want to see about having the cooling system bled to remove possible air bubbles.
Faulty Radiator - Leaks in the radiator itself are harder to locate and repair than problems with hoses. Look for bubbles or steam coming from the radiator to signal the location of a leak.
Radiator fan fails - Modern cars use an electric fan to pull enough air through the radiator to keep the car cool at idle and low speeds. A car that does fine on the freeway but overheats at idle or in traffic probably has a problem with the radiator fan.
Water pump failure - The cooling system uses a pump to move the coolant throughout the engine in order to regulate the temperature. Water moves through the radiator, past the pump, into the engine and then is forced back into the radiator. If the water pump fails, the water no longer circulates properly, and the car will overheat.
Obstructions in the cooling system - Obstructions can take the shape of engine "scale" blocking the cooling passages in the engine or radiator, which makes it difficult for coolant to move efficiently. Obstructions can also happen when something restricts the flow of air through the radiator, which in turn makes it hard for the radiator to transfer heat to the air. This can be caused by anything from bent fins and grass seeds.
Here at ATIC Mechanical we can check out and make sure it is running perfectly and for just $77 we can do a radiator flush on your car.
