When you think of an overheating engine, you get visions of steam pouring out from under the hood. This is an extreme example, but it’s something that can happen if overheating problems are ignored. If you have a car overheating, your trusted VW dealer can fix the problem. These are examples of issues that can lead to overheating.
Car Overheating? Three Reasons to See Your VW Dealer Today
Broken Water Pump
Liquid coolant is used to control your engine temperature. Your VW engine produces heat, and heat can damage your engine if it’s not removed. Coolant collects heat as it moves through your engine. The cooling system operates at high speed, as it needs to match your engine’s heat production.
The water pump is the component responsible for pumping coolant through your engine. The pump starts as soon as coolant is released and switches off when the engine temperature drops below its pre-set point. A broken water pump will prevent coolant from moving through your engine, and the temperature will rapidly rise. We can replace the broken pump, and the coolant will flow again.
Leaking Coolant
A coolant leak is one of the most serious issues your cooling system can face. As we saw above, the cooling system depends on the constant flow of high-pressure coolant through your engine. Over time, material fatigue and damage can take their toll on the system. Parts like the radiator hoses can become less flexible and crack, radiator seals can shrink, and hose clamps can loosen.
Coolant can leak from many places, but it’s easy to distinguish from other car fluids. Coolant is always in bright colors like pink, yellow, green, and blue. If you see a pool of liquid in any of these colors, you have a coolant leak. Our technicians will thoroughly examine your cooling system and find the source of the leak. We’ll fix the leak, and your engine temperature will return to normal.
Damaged Thermostat
The thermostat is a small valve that controls the flow of coolant in your engine. When your engine reaches a pre-set temperature, usually between 185F and 210F, the thermostat opens and releases coolant. Once your engine temperature drops below the pre-set point, the coolant is withdrawn, and the valve will close.
The valve can fail and jam in one position. A thermostat that’s jammed open will continually supply coolant. This lowers the engine’s temperate and makes it less efficient. A thermostat that’s jammed closed won’t release coolant, and this will cause your engine to overheat. We’ll remove the thermostat and replace it with a new one to fix the problem.
Fortunately, there are always numerous signs your engine is running too hot. Call us at Crain Volkswagen of Fayetteville, and we’ll fix the problem.
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