As the summer months approach and you prepare for road trips, you might worry that your car isn’t prepared to handle the heat. Whether you’re heading across the country to see family or you have plans to camp in the mountains, your car might not be equipped to handle hot weather. But what can you do when your car overheats?

At Paskett Auto, our team understands how an overheating car can throw a wrench in your highly anticipated summer plans. Thankfully, if your car overheats, there are a few things you can do to remedy it. If you want to avoid your car overheating this summer so you can enjoy hanging out with your family and friends, keep reading. 

Why Your Car Overheats

If your car overheats, there are a few issues this may be linked to. A malfunctioning thermostat may fail to regulate engine temperature, leading to overheating. Low coolant levels or leaks inhibit the system’s ability to dissipate heat effectively. Clogged radiator fins restrict airflow, impeding cooling efficiency. 

Inadequate airflow caused by a faulty fan or debris accumulation exacerbates the problem, especially in traffic or at low speeds. Engine strain from heavy loads or towing can also raise temperatures beyond the cooling system’s ability. Regular maintenance and addressing underlying issues are essential to preventing overheating and preserving your engine’s health.

Signs Your Car Is Overheating

Your car often does a good job of letting you know that it is overheating. However, you have to know what to look out for. Some of the signs of an overheating car include: 

• The temperature gauge light turns on
• Steam or smoke coming from your engine
• Your hood is excessively hot to touch
• There is a smell of burning oil
• Your engine is making a thumping noise
• There is less engine power

What To Do When Your Car Overheats

If your car overheats, there are a few things you need to do to ensure the safety of yourself, your car, and other drivers on the road. These include:

1. Pull Over in a Safe Place

If your car overheats, the most important thing you can do is pull over when it is safe to do so. Ignoring the signs that your car is overheating can lead to even more significant and costly or irreparable damage. If your car is overheating, you shouldn’t drive any more than a quarter of a mile if you can avoid doing so. While this might not be possible, it is best to pull over to a place where a tow truck may be able to pick up your car without risking the safety of other drivers on the road. 

2. Turn Off Your Air Conditioning

As you attempt to pull your car over, you should turn on your air conditioning. While you might think keeping your air conditioning on while your car is overheating can cool it off, it might do the opposite. Keeping your air conditioning on when your car overheats may put more strain on the engine. You may also want to roll down your windows and open your sunroof. By opening your windows, you can help the hot air that is warming your car escape and begin to cool down your engine. 

3. Let Your Engine Cool Off

When you have pulled your car over in a safe place, turn it off. Leaving your car running will keep up the temperature of the engine, causing more damage to your car. Instead, turn off your car and open your hood if it isn’t too hot to touch. You should allow it to cool off for at least 15 minutes. Once it has cooled, turn the key to the first position in the ignition. This can help you determine if the engine is cooling down or if you need to call a tow truck. 

4. Restart Your Engine

If your temperature gauge is reading a safe temperature once again, try starting the engine again. From this point, you may want to drive it to your home or a repair shop near you. However, during this drive, you should watch for any signs that your car is overheating again. If your car makes any uncommon noises or struggles or fails to start, don’t attempt to turn on your engine again. Instead, call a tow truck to take you to a repair shop. 

5. Head to a Trusted Repair Shop

If your car’s temperature still isn’t coming down or your engine has begun to make abnormal noises, it is time to take it to a trusted repair shop for maintenance. They will be able to diagnose the problem with your car and prevent it from overheating again. If, on the way to the repair shop, your car overheats again, pull over and allow it to cool off. Take your time going to the shop and allow your car plenty of time to cool off to prevent further damage to your engine. 

Repairs for Car Owners Across Roy, Utah

If your car overheats and you are looking for a reliable auto repair shop in Roy, Utah, look no further than our team at Paskett Auto. With almost three decades of experience helping car owners diagnose and repair a variety of car problems, we’re confident that we can do the same for you. From standard maintenance to air conditioning and heater repairs, tire changes, and much more, our team provides a variety of services to ensure you are safe on the road. If your car overheats and you need immediate repair, don’t hesitate to contact us today to schedule an appointment. 

With so much to maintain on your car, you might not even know when it’s time to replace your brakes. In fact, you likely won’t experience any problems with your brakes for thousands of miles. When they finally begin acting up, you might not even realize that the signs you are experiencing are indications that you need to get new brakes. 

Your car’s brakes need to be replaced every 25,000 to 65,000 miles, though they may wear down more quickly based on the local weather conditions, road quality, and driving style. When they begin to wear down, they will start showing clear signs of wear and tear. Our team at Paskett Auto wants you to know all the signs indicating you need to get new brakes so your car can continue performing as safely as possible. 

1. Your Brakes Are Squeaking Or Screeching

When you are driving your car, you may begin to hear a high-pitched squealing or screeching when applying pressure to your brakes. This squealing or screeching is a result of a metal tab scrapping against the rotor. Most brake pads are designed with these built-in wear indicators, so you know when they are beginning to wear down. If you notice this squealing sound every time you stop your car, it is a sign that you have 2/32 of an inch of brake pad remaining and is a good indication that you need to get new brakes. 

2. You Aren’t Stopping As Quickly As Normal

If you live on a hill and often have to apply your brakes as you descend, you may begin to experience brake fade. This means you are utilizing your brakes for significant distances. While this is fine occasionally, regularly using your brakes like this may result in premature wearing of the brake pad. Over time, you will notice that your car is not stopping as quickly as it previously was. This can indicate one of two problems. You either need new brake fluid or you need to get new brakes to fix this problem. 

3. Your Car Vibrates When Stopping

This sign is definitely a final sign that you need to get new brakes. Brake pads are held together by a resin material. As they wear down, the resin is warmed and spreads across the rotors. With well-functioning brakes, this resin spreads evenly across the rotors. But, if your brake pads are overheated, the resin may spread unevenly, leading to vibration as you attempt to stop your vehicle. Your brakes shouldn’t ever vibrate when stopping if they are in good condition, so as soon as this sign appears, it is crucial that you reach out to a professional for brake replacements. 

4. You Feel Your Car Pull To One Side When Braking

No matter how you use your brakes, they never wear out at the same rate. Sometimes, one side will wear down more quickly than the other. As you begin to apply pressure to your brakes, you may notice your car pulling to one side. This problem can become more significant if you don’t address it. You may find your car swerving into other lanes of traffic. If you notice your car veering into other lanes of traffic when stopping, you need to get new brakes as soon as possible to ensure you can safely stop without risking hitting others. 

5. Your Low Brake Pad Light Comes On

Many modern vehicles have a warning lights on their dash to indicate any problems with the system. These lights include the Anti-lock braking system and brake system warning light. While this light doesn’t always come on when there is an issue with your brakes, there is a chance it will appear. While there are several problems this can indicate, including the need to get new brakes, it is best that you reach out to an expert for help. They can determine if you need new brakes or if there are other problems with your braking system that you haven’t experienced yet.

Get New Brakes With Paskett Auto 

Having well-performing brakes is essential for safely using your car. If you have noticed any of the signs above, it is crucial that you schedule an appointment with a reliable auto repair shop as soon as possible. Our team at Paskett Auto can quickly and safely replace your brakes so you feel safe driving your car again. 

In addition to our brake services, we provide engine repairs, emissions tests, tire alignment, and more. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment to replace your brakes or would like to speak to a member of our team, contact us today.