I worked for a long time at Global Rebound Automotive companies (Toyota, TATA, BMW, Nissan, TVs, and Others ) as a Mechanic and Mechanics Supervisor. If you find out that the coolant in the radiator of your vehicle is very low, you should fill the radiator through the coolant reservoir. If your car overheats once, it’ll do it again. This is one of the factors that can cause rapid fluctuation in the reading of the temperature gauge. If the temperature gauge is unable to give a steady reading, it is a sign that this might be the cause. So, if you see that the temperature gauge is all the way up even though the cars not overheating, this is a weird situation. It’s a great tool. When the water pump has a broken seal, shaft, or cast, it can cause the water pump to stop working. It might also be a result of a faulty temperature gauge. Common Symptoms of a bad Knock Sensor and Replacement Cost. The absence of coolant in the reservoir of your vehicle will not make the system function properly, causing the engine’s temperature to rise. ), the radiator fan, or a failed thermostat. Temperature gauges are wired differently on some cars than on others. Park your vehicle in a safe area or put it in Neutral mode. The temperature gauge isn’t as advanced as you think, and it can be designed to read in the middle of the gauge over a wide range of temperatures. It can be very frustrating to notice a continuous increase in your vehicle’s temperature gauge while driving. Your engine can read as though it is overheating when there’s a broken temperature gauge. 2- Turn on your defroster and your heat to HOT, fan on High. You might require a mechanic’s services to help you do this quickly. Your car overheating shouldn’t propel you into a frenzied fluster, that will only make you nuts and won’t solve the underlying problem. If you want to diagnose this problem properly, you can use a professional OBD2 scanner (View on Amazon). I have been working as a mechanic for over fifteen years. Therefore, if this is the case for your vehicle, there might be a false alarm from the temperature gauge indicating that your vehicle’s engine is hot. For a damaged radiator cap, you will have to replace it with a new one. All it takes is giving your vehicle a little attention every few thousand miles and you’ll never spend money at the workshop again. When the temperature gauge is rapidly increasing, it reflects a drastic increase in the temperature of your vehicle’s engine, leading to the engine knocking. It is not good for your vehicle to run on a very hot engine. If the radiator cap of your vehicle is not properly tightened, it can cause the temperature gauge to reflect an inaccurate reading. Symptoms of a Bad Engine Mount: How to Check, Change and FAQs. The wires from the coolant temperature sensor go to the engine control unit first, then information is sent to the cluster. In this situation, you need to make sure that the coolant level is topped up. Wait until the engine as cooled off and locate and slowly remove the coolant reservoir or radiator cap and check the coolant level. You need to check for any broken wires between these two components. Start the car and remove the radiator cap so that you can see down into the radiator. If this is the case, then you need to head to the local dealership to get the gasket repaired. This will assist in increasing the efficiency of the cooling system of your vehicle. Now you need to investigate what the problem is, and then you can decide what to do. Making sure that you drive knowing the correct temperature is important. When car runs hot or gets close to overheating, it is extra taxing on several parts of the engine and cooling system. Broken Wires to the Sensor or Gauge – if there are broken wires to the sensor or to the gauge, this can cause the wrong temperature to show on the temperature gauge. This blows some excess heat from the engine into the car. It ain’t funny. Overworked engine – if the engine has been overworked, it could cause the temperature gauge to go up, but you may have not noticed. An engine overheating can affect drivability and air conditioner efficiency. If nothing happens after you’ve done this, you should wait for a few more minutes to check if the temperature gauge does come down. The professional diagnostics tool will then translate the error code and tell you what it means. Wherever the temperature gauge is will be the normal temperature for your engine. Running the A/C puts a heavy load on your engine. Taking this first action would prevent any other engine problems from occurring. This can be a simple fix if it just got low, but a leak can require more extensive repairs. If you notice that the needle stays in the same place for several minutes and doesn’t move from the red zone, it could be an indication that the gauge is broken. As soon as they notice the most minor problem, they’ll ask you to fork out some money even though it’s a problem you can fix yourself in minutes – the manual will teach you how to maintain your vehicle every few thousand miles and it’ll teach you how to fix minor problems that mechanics will ask you to pay for; saving you money in the long run. Once the hood is open, there’s a risk of being sprayed with hot water or steam. As a mechanic, I found out that most drivers don’t even pay attention to the temperature gauge of their vehicle until they see the engine check light on. Although hot weather is the most common cause of overheating, many other factors can cause the same problem. Radiator fans usually run on electric motors, so any motor mechanical problems can lead to your fan not providing enough cool air flow. Also, a fluctuation in the radiator fan’s operation can cause a rise and fall in the engine’s temperature of your vehicle. That’s why the best option is to stop your car and investigate the problem immediately you notice any sign that reflects a significant increase in the temperature of your vehicle’s engine. Techzillo Ltd is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Coolants pass through the engine block, flowing into the radiator to draw out excessive heat. The temperature gauge only indicates on when the temperature of the car is too hot or too cold. It is not an expensive repair, but this would require the services of a mechanic. While there are a variety of reasons your Toyota Camry is overheating, the most common 3 are a coolant leak (water pump, radiator, hose etc. You will need to allow the engine of your vehicle to cool down and then tighten the hose clamp. Stay calm and pull over to the side of the road. If your engine gets very hot, you might start observing white smoke from the engine. The mechanic will have to drain out the old coolant and refill it properly. All was well for about 3 months. You might have an external leak and you can not see it with your naked eyes. This fault can be the reason why your car temperature gauge goes up and down while driving. During the winter when you crank up your heat, the coolant is brought over from the engine to the heater core that then blows warm air into your car. If you notice that the temperature is running hot, and you can feel this in the vehicle or the engine, then the temperature gauge is broken. If it is broken due to exposure to heat, it can affect the flow of coolant. The temperature sensor is responsible for determining your vehicle’s engine temperature; a bad temperature sensor equals an inaccurate reading on the temperature gauge. What are common reasons my Ford Explorer overheats? Ideally, this gauge indicates the engine’s average temperature, which signifies that it is neither too hot nor cold. Long Post but not sure what is going on. A clog in the heater core could also cause this problem. Assuming you find yourself faced with this issue, you need to be aware of what might have caused this before you begin to think of a solution as there are a lot of factors that can cause the problem of your car running hot but not overheating. If you noticed that your car is running hot but not overheating, there are a few reasons why. Since then, a couple of times it has released a ton of steam, but my temp gauge remains within a normal range. Hi There, I am R. Hasan Tito, a mechanic, and owner of this website. Hot coolant flowing through the radiator should be cooled as air from the cooling fan(s), or normal driving, passes over the radiator. I will examine most of the causes of this problem: The temperature gauge is made up of parts that are easily susceptible to damage. Most of the signs you will experience include: noise from your engine, increase in the level of the temperature gauge, white smoke from the engine, odor from your vehicle’s engine, leakage of coolant under your vehicle, and low engine efficiency. But not too worry, cause today I will educate you on the causes of your car running hot but not overheating and also how to still get to that meeting or event on time even when you find yourself in this situation. The Main Causes of Car Smells Like Antifreeze but Not Overheating Several reasons are there for causing this problem. But to do this, you have to be very careful. There are several warning signs that can notify you when the engine of your vehicle begins to overheat. My friend and I created this website to share our knowledge, expertise, and experience with our fellow mechanics' community and car users. How to Stop an Engine from Overheating. In a case of coolant leakage under your vehicle due to a torn or worn-out radiator hose. The temp gauge is meant to measure the correct temperature of the car and if you feel like the car isn’t overheating but the gauge is communicating this information to you, then there’s a chance that the gauge could be damaged. Doing this, to a large extent, can lower the chances of your vehicle developing issues that will cause the problem of your car running hot but not overheating or any engine problem at all. Why Is My Car Overheating? Another sign that’ll let you know if it needs to be fixed is if the reading stays at 80-100 degrees while you’re driving. This past week, the car has been running hot...230-240 but would suddenly cool to … When the temperature gauge is broken, the needle can break and get store when it gets to the hot second. You have to pay attention to the following steps: Put off the air conditioner of your vehicle. If the temperature gauge is faulty, then you’re going to receive incorrect readings saying that the temperature is too high even though you can’t feel it in your vehicle. How to fix cars running hot but not overheating? If your vehicle overheats in traffic in normal weather, one of the following may be the culprit: The water and coolant and water level in the radiator is low. If the engine is really overheating but you’re not noticing, then you’ll need to stop driving. The engine can be overworked if you’ve been driving for too long, in rocky terrain, or you’ve been accelerator over a lot period of time. A faulty head gasket can be one of the factors responsible for the temperature gauge rising but car not overheating. Like I said earlier, park your vehicle in a safe parking area and immediately turn off the engine. There are many gears in the temperature gauge of your vehicle that can also affect the function of this needle. On modern vehicles, there’s an engine control unit and it needs the temperature of the coolant to calculate the correct air-fuel mixture at different temperatures. The engine can overheat due to low coolant, or low oil. The temperature gauge is so rarely looked at that manufacturers have stopped putting temperature gauges in their vehicles. A damaged radiator, low-quality coolant or low level of coolant in the radiator, a faulty radiator cap, bad radiator fan, air bubbles in the cooling system of your vehicle, damaged thermostat, or a broken are all the factors that can cause a high increase in the temperature of your vehicle. Once your temperature gauge has indicated that your vehicle’s engine has gotten to a high level of hotness indicated while driving the car, you have just a few minutes before severe damages will be done to your vehicle. There are many sensors in every automotive engine used for regulating things like temperature, emissions, and ignition timing. It could be as simple as a plastic bag stuck to the exhaust or a bit of oil spilled from your last oil change. If your car smells hot but not overheating on the temperature gauge, it still needs to be inspected. If it gets stuck closed, the coolant will not circulate properly. The best way to prevent an overheating car engine is to have regular coolant flushes and exchanges performed on your car, and stay up-to-date with radiator maintenance as recommended by your vehicle manufacturer. Temperature gauge needle is on Hot, but engine is not overheating. There’s a … A lot of our readers have the Auto Maintenance and Repair Manual printed on their garage wall and 92% of them haven’t visited the auto repair shop in the last year because they know what to do to avoid problems. car is a 1996 Honda Civic EK hatchback. Leaks can be internal or external. Replaced the Thermostat myself and seems to have fixed the problem. Immediately park your vehicle and turn off your engine. In the case of a damaged temperature gauge, you may need to get your car to the mechanic shop or, better still, call for the services of a mechanic to get a needle replacement. The radiator fan of your vehicle helps decrease the coolant’s temperature as it picks up heat from the engine. If the water pump is either affected by leaks or floods, it can be responsible for the temperature increase in your vehicle’s engine. If it doesn’t work, you should change the sensor. This is why it is important that you regularly check the coolant level in your vehicle’s reservoir and always keep your reservoir tank full. The radiator additionally keeps the pistons in working order, allowing the engine to run. Reason #1: Not Enough Coolant. I recently replaced the water pump and changed the radiator cap from the factory model to one that has a pressure release. When the temp gauge is on hot and I rev the engine, temp gauge needle … If your car is hot but isn’t overheating, there are a few reasons why this can happen. If this solves the problem, then congratulations, you have saved yourself money that could have been used for changing the whole radiator hose of your vehicle. ), the radiator fan, or a failed thermostat. Before we get into the causes of vehicle overheating, let’s help minimize the potential damage to your car NOW until you can get it into a shop: 1- Turn off the AC immediately. On some vehicles, there’s a coolant temperature sensor that has two wires directing to the cluster. You should open the hood or bonnet of your car to release the steam from the engine. If you notice that the temperature gauge is fluctuating and giving you an incorrect reading, it’s a sign that it needs to be replaced. If your car has not been overheating or running hot, your water pump is not the culprit. The radiator acts to protect the engine block from overheating when it is functioning properly. It’s basically what mechanics use to go through your vehicle to check if there are any problems that need fixing. This problem is also one of the factors that can be considered when you notice an increase in the temperature of your vehicle’s engine. Low CoolantThe cooling system must maintain pressure and a proper coolant level or the engine will overheat. Several factors can affect the temperature balance of the engine of your vehicle. There are also gears that allow the need to move and this can break. While there are a variety of reasons your Ford Explorer is overheating, the most common 3 are a coolant leak (water pump, radiator, hose etc. Usually, a stuck thermostat will not make the car heat overheat quickly. If the car mileage starts to drop, it could be an indication that the temperature gauge needs to be repaired. In this case, you’ll need to stop the vehicle and let the engine rest for a bit. You should have one too. Failure to maintain your vehicle can lead to problems like this. A damaged head gasket can cause leakage of coolant. I have a 93 Nissan Altima. A leaky hose will not be able to efficiently transport coolant as it will allow the escape of coolant. Beyond flushing your radiator, check your oil regularly to be sure you are providing adequate lubrication to your engine. Turn on the heater. This can also be caused by a damaged radiator, faulty radiator cap, lower level of coolant or a trapped air bubble in the system. You should know that the coolant level in your vehicle’s radiator can slowly reduce with time, so you have to check your radiator and coolant reservoir regularly. Your car uses coolant – usually made up of 50% antifreeze and 50% water – to cool your engine down, especially during the hot months of summer. Check your fan clutch if you have a mechanical cooling fan with a fan clutch. Therefore, the state of your vehicle’s engine should be of utmost importance to you. If you want to avoid temperature gauge problems or other issues and save $100s of dollars that you’ll spend at the auto repair shop, you’ll need to service your vehicle often – you can use our mechanic-rated Auto Maintenance and Repair Manual to do this. In your vehicle, there’s a temperature gauge and most drivers never look at it – it can actually tell you a lot about the condition your vehicles in. The temperature gauge is a device used for measuring and controlling your vehicle’s engine temperature. The … Hence, reducing the coolant quantity making it insufficient. If you noticed that your car is running hot but not overheating, there are a few reasons why. If you car is overheating at idle, but it’s fine the rest of the time, then there are a handful of different problems that you might be dealing with. There are maintenance steps that you should be carrying out on your vehicle to keep it in tip top condition, and this includes the temperature gauge. The most likely reason for this type of problem is that your fan isn’t working, but the reason, and the fix, will differ depending on the car you drive. Check the water level to make it's at or near the top of the radiator. Of course these aren’t the only possible problems that can cause a car to overheat. This will need to be checked by a mechanic so the appropriate steps can be taken. Overheating Engine – if your car is running hot, it could really be overheating, and you haven’t noticed. But if it doesn’t work, then you can’t run away from either changing the particularly damaged hose or changing the entire hose of your vehicle’s cooling system if it is a severe case. Wires can go from the sensor directly to the cluster or from the sensor to the engine control unit. This problem can cost a lot to repair and if you maintained your vehicle earlier, you could have avoided this. A malfunctioning thermostat might also be a likely reason for overheating while the car is running at a regular speed. If the fan cannot accomplish this task due to malfunction, it can negatively affect the engine system by making it hot. Always use the recommended coolant for your vehicle. This type of fan will move, albeit with some resistance, when you turn it by hand with the engine off. When the engine gets hot, the valve opens and coolant flows through to reduce the engine temperature, while a cool engine has a closed valve that blocks the flow of coolant and helps a cold engine warm up. This will cause coolant leakage and can also drastically reduce the level of coolant in the radiator. You may be getting a... 2. When the engine is operating at a normal temperature, the temperature gauge should be near the center and not running hot. And the temperature gage is always right in the middle, it's not showing that it's overheating. https://gobdp.com/blog/is-your-car-running-hot-but-not-overheating To successfully reduce the temperature of your car when it overheats. Continue to the driver while your vehicle is overheating can cause more wear on the engine which will damage its longevity. My car is overheating while driving I am a specialist and certified automotive mechanics (Both Heavy Commercial and Private Cars). If you notice that the temperature gauge goes to the cold reading from normal when you’re driving slowly or idle, this is an indication that the temperature gauge is damaged. Drivers who do not know what to do get even more frustrated. If the needle is broken, it needs to be repaired and this can be done at your local dealership. Failed Temperature Sensor. If you check the radiator cap and notice it’s not closed properly, this can cause the temperature gauge to show incorrect readings. It can affect the entire cooling system of the engine of your vehicle, thereby making it hot. More serious problems exist that can cause that hot smell too. When the temperature gauge isn’t maintained problem, it can show incorrect readings, and this can affect your mileage. The temperature gauge isn’t as advanced as you think, and it can be designed to read in the middle of the gauge over a wide range of temperatures. Paying attention to these signs would help safeguard your engine from further damages. You need to understand that the engine is the heart of a vehicle. As an expert mechanic, I always use the modern Autel MaxiSys MS906BT Automotive Scan Tool in any engine problem situation. If there’s a problem related to the temperature of the temperature gauge, then you’ll know the exact problem and what needs to be fixed. Please take your vehicle to the mechanic shop for proper check if you still notice a high drop in your radiator’s coolant level just after you finished refilling. While it’s not ideal on a hot summer day (which is when most vehicles tend to overheat), it does help cool the engine down. Making sure that you check out why this is happening and get it to repair is crucial because you may receive a poor mileage if not repaired soon enough. Reason for a car running hot but not overheating 1. Most motorists turn off the AC and observe the temperature gauge before deciding what to do; it is not really advisable to do this because the actual cause of the sudden rise in the engine’s temperature is unknown. The car that uses the coolant temperature as information usually has no engine control unit. One of these sensors is known as the 'Knock sensor.' Regular maintenance can help with this issue. The hoses create the medium for the transportation of coolant. Always allow the engine to cool before testing or inspection. B16A2 DOHC VTEC engine. When there’s a problem like this in the car, an error code is sent to the diagnostics unit and this is where it’s stored. Let’s look at how to solve most of the causes of this problem: 3 Most Common Reasons for Car Engine Overheating YouTube, link to Common Symptoms of a bad Knock Sensor and Replacement Cost, link to Symptoms of a Bad Engine Mount: How to Check, Change and FAQs, Autel MaxiSys MS906BT Automotive Scan Tool, Fuel Induction Service: All that you need to Know, Oil smells like Gas: Symptoms, Causes and Fixes, Bad Serpentine Belt Symptoms/ Drive Belt : All that You Need to Know. This tool helps me easily find out the causes of any engine problem my vehicle might be experiencing. It is very important to know how most of your vehicle’s systems operate while using the vehicle.