Do-it-Yourself Auto Repairs for Overheating Problems

Engine Coolant Problems

1). Check your engine coolant. Make sure that the coolant is not muddy, dark in color or thick. The coolant should be watery and a clear shade of yellow, green, blue or maybe even orange, depending on the brand you use.
2). Check the engine coolant level. Locate the coolant filler cap under the hood of the vehicle. Unscrew the cap and pull out the dipstick. Wipe the dipstick with a cloth rag and replace the dipstick. Remove the dipstick again and inspect the dipstick. Make sure that the fluid level is between the upper and lower ranges on the dipstick. Add more coolant if necessary.
3). Crawl underneath your vehicle. Inspect the ground underneath the coolant container. Look for fluid spots that could indicate a coolant leak.

1). Open the hood of your vehicle. Locate the radiator pressure cap on the top part of the radiator. Remove the pressure cap.
2). Dip a high-temperature thermometer into the radiator and start the engine. Allow the radiator to warm up. Watch the thermometer to make sure that the temperature of the radiator increases.
3). Look for coolant to flow as the temperature of the radiator increases. If coolant does not flow, this is an indication that the vehicle's thermostat is not functioning properly.

1). Pop open the hood of the vehicle. Locate the electric cooling fan, which should be easy to identify because it looks just like a fan. It is typically mounted behind the radiator.
2). Turn on your vehicle. Turn on the air conditioner to its maximum setting. Go back and check the electric cooling fan. If the fan is running, then the fan motor, relay, fuse and wiring are all in fine working order.
3). Go back and turn off the air conditioner. Provided that your engine is still cool, the fans should shut off after you turn off the air conditioner. Allow the engine to keep running so that the engine will heat up. Check to make sure that the fan comes back on once the engine reaches its normal operating temperatures of about 200 to 230 degrees. If the fan does not come on, the fan's control circuit is faulty.