Why Is My Hyundai Overheating?
Your Hyundai overheating can trigger all types of anxiety. The team here at Colonial Hyundai of New London, CT, wants to walk you through why your Hyundai is overheating, what can be done about it, and how to prevent this from happening again. Of course, you'll have to stay around to find out what can lead to a Hyundai overheating, plus schedule an appointment here with our dedicated service technicians if you think your car, truck, or SUV has a temperature problem. Without further ado, let's get into it!
Possible Causes of Overheating
If your Hyundai is overheating, there could be a problem with its cooling system. Most of the time, these issues occur with the radiator, water pump, thermostat, hoses, and cooling fan, although you may also need to add more coolant to the reservoir. The engine inside your Hyundai is supposed to stay between 195 degrees Fahrenheit and 220 degrees Fahrenheit, so anything well beyond that is a reason to get concerned.
Here are some possible reasons for a Hyundai overheating:
Coolant Issues
Coolant issues, like low coolant or dirty coolant, can trigger the entire engine to overheat and malfunction. If your coolant looks low or dirty, you want to come in and see us. Most Hyundai drivers have new coolant added to their cars every two to three years.
Thermostat Problems
The thermostat of your engine is responsible for regulating engine temperature; if it malfunctions or breaks, you can experience overheating and engine damage.
Radiator Issues
The radiator is your car's heat exchanger, which transfers heat from the coolant to the outside air. If overheating keeps happening, this is a common place where we find issues.
Water Pump Failure
As soon as a water pump stops circulating coolant throughout the engine and cooling system, you will experience higher temperature readings and potential issues, including misfiring, stalling, and damage.
Engine Problems
General problems with the health and mechanics of an engine often lead to system overdrive and overheating. A Hyundai overheating is usually because of something wrong with your pumps, fluids, malfunctioning cooling fan, or radiator, so let the technicians at Colonial Hyundai step in and see what is going on.
Symptoms of Overheating
The most common Hyundai overheating symptoms include warning lights on the dashboard, steam or smoke coming from under the hood, loud engines, power loss, leaking fluids, issues with accelerating, and general instability behind the wheel.
Dashboard Warning Lights
As soon as you see a check engine light on the dashboard, it could mean that overheating or serious engine damage is imminent.
Steam From the Engine
While driving or once parked, if you see steam or smoke coming from the hood of your car, it means the engine is too hot and needs to be turned off and repaired.
Unusual Engine Noises
Anytime the engine of your Hyundai car, truck, or SUV starts making thumping, ticking, clicking, or clanking noises, it means the engine is potentially overheating. Also, the louder your engine gets, the higher its temperature might be, so make sure to keep an eye on the temperature gauge if noise persists.
Loss of Power
While driving, an overheated engine will lose power and shut off. You will usually get a warning before this happens, although it can come out of the blue if you ignore a damaged engine or cooling component for too long.
Preventive Measures
The best way to prevent Hyundai from overheating is to schedule routine maintenance for your vehicle. Remember, the best schedule for your engine is every six months or 5,000 to 7,500 miles driven. Some people come to see us for their oil changes, filters, coolant top-offs, hose and pump replacements, and diagnostics, all to prevent emergencies down the line.
Regular Maintenance Tips
There are regular engine and cooling system maintenance tips our team at Colonial Hyundai wants you to keep in mind. As your car ages, these appointments become even more important, so please don't hesitate to schedule an assessment here in New London, CT, to determine its current condition.
Importance of Coolant Flushes
Coolant flushes for your Hyundai to prevent overheating are one of the easiest maintenance tips we have. The general timeline for coolant flushes is every 30,000 miles or every two years, whichever comes first.
Many new Hyundais have Organic Acid Technology (OAT) coolants, which can last longer, potentially up to 5 years or 100,000 miles. It is best to check your owner's manual for this information.
Monitoring Temperature Gauge
Keeping an eye on the temperature gauge inside your Hyundai and coming in to see our mechanics when the temperature rises beyond ~220 degrees is key to preventing overheating. If anything appears unusual on the dashboard or you receive an alert from your vehicle, it's time to come in and see a certified professional.
When to Seek Professional Help
The best time to seek professional help for a Hyundai overheating issue is when you notice lights on the dashboard, leaking fluids, trouble accelerating and performing, hear odd noises, cannot start your car, or if smoke or steam is coming from under the hood. The quicker you address cooling system problems, the less likely your engine is to experience severe damage.
We always remind our drivers here in New London that when an engine gets too hot, there is a possibility of cracks, leaks, and loss of compression. Stay ahead of this by scheduling a service appointment with a trusted team.
Schedule Service at Colonial Hyundai
The next time you struggle with a Hyundai overheating in New London, CT, our top-rated team at Colonial Hyundai is here to help. We have plenty of space for new and used cars, trucks, and SUVs from the brand, plus years of hands-on experience fixing them.
We can flush and top off your coolant, make necessary repairs and replacements, and run diagnostics to ensure everything under the hood is functioning correctly. The best next step for you as a car owner is to contact us and get on the calendar, so please do not wait. Our technicians are available to help Monday through Friday.
