Why Is My Car Overheating?

Your Toyota's engine can develop problems for several reasons. The engine has the important task of keeping your car moving, and it is made up of many smaller parts. Those components can break or wear out over time, which causes the engine to strain and overheat as a result. If your car's engine is overheating, you might find that it starts smoking from the hood or has a burning odor. Whether you notice one or both problems, you'll want to get your Toyota checked out by an expert mechanic right away.

Cooling System Problems

Your engine relies on the parts in the cooling system to stay at an adequate operating temperature. The cooling system comprises many parts, including major components such as the water pump, thermostat, and radiator. There are also numerous hoses and belts in the cooling system that can wear out, break, or develop holes. When that happens, the components cannot keep the engine cool, either because they can't move hot air away from the engine or because coolant fluid can't reach it.

Broken Thermostat

The thermostat in your vehicle is a valve located in the cooling system. The thermostat is designed to open and close on demand to allow coolant fluid to pass through and reach the radiator. If the thermostat becomes stuck, the coolant fluid can't get to the radiator. It sits in the engine instead, where it then becomes overheated. If you notice that the engine's temperature is starting to rise when driving, schedule an appointment with your mechanic to see if a broken thermostat is the underlying issue.

Worn Out Hoses

Your car's cooling system contains various hoses that can spring leaks if they develop holes or cracks. The hoses allow coolant fluid to drip out of your vehicle rather than passing through the cooling system. The hoses won't circulate coolant fluid, which means that the engine is prone to getting too hot.

Bad Radiator Fans

The radiator in your Toyota's cooling system comes with fans that help keep the engine cool enough to run by pulling away hot air. The fans may end up with a broken fan or a worn clutch, which makes the fans themselves fail to work as they should. If the radiator's fans cannot lower the engine's temperature to keep it in the correct range, the engine can overheat.

If you're having problems with your Toyota's engine, contact our expert service staff for service today.