Go Time Auto Repair

The temperature gauge is climbing

The engine cannot get rid of its heat. Either coolant is low from a leak, coolant is not moving because of a stuck thermostat or a failing water pump, or the heat is not leaving the radiator because the fan is dead or the fins are clogged. Miami traffic exposes fan problems first, because at a crawl there is no airflow unless the fan makes it. An overheat with white smoke or a sweet smell means coolant is leaking somewhere it should not.

Book an overheating repair (786) 884-4889
Urgency
Stop driving it
What to do right now

What to do right now

  1. 1Turn the AC off and the heater on full hot with the fan on high. It pulls heat out of the engine. Then pull over as soon as it is safe and shut it off.
  2. 2Do not open the radiator cap while it is hot. The system is under pressure and sprays boiling coolant. Wait at least 30 minutes.
  3. 3Once cool, check the overflow tank. If it is empty, there is a leak. Adding water can get you a short distance. Do not use it as a fix.
  4. 4If the gauge went all the way to red or the engine lost power or ran rough, do not restart it. Have it towed. A tow is cheaper than a head gasket.
What it usually is

What it usually is

Cooling system

Pressure test for leaks, check the thermostat, water pump, hoses, and fan operation, then a proper coolant fill and bleed. That is where most overheats get solved.

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Radiator repair

Radiators here clog with debris in front and corrosion inside. A radiator that only cools at highway speed usually needs to be replaced, not flushed.

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Electrical repair

A fan that does not come on is often a relay, a fuse, a temperature sensor, or a fan control module. We test the circuit before replacing the fan motor.

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Questions people ask

It only overheats in traffic. What is that?
The cooling fan. At speed, air moves through the radiator on its own. Stuck on the Palmetto, the fan is the only airflow. If the fan or its circuit is weak, the gauge climbs at a stop and drops when you move. This is the most common overheat we see in Miami.
It overheated once and then was fine. Do I still need to come in?
Yes. A single overheat can crack a head or cook a gasket, and the symptoms show up weeks later as coolant loss and white exhaust. We pressure test the system and check for combustion gas in the coolant so you know where you stand.
Can I use water instead of coolant?
To get off the highway, yes. As a fix, no. Water boils sooner, has no corrosion protection, and the heat here boils it off. The system needs the correct coolant type for your car, mixed to the right ratio.
The heater blows cold when it overheats. Why?
That means coolant is very low or air is trapped in the system. The heater core is the first thing that runs dry. It is a strong sign of a leak and a reason to stop driving right away.

Ready to book?

Pick a time. We text you the written price before any work starts.

Book an overheating repair(786) 884-4889