Are you only able to drive your car for a few miles before it begins to overheat to the point of you having to pull over until it cools off? There are a few different things that can go wrong with the cooling system and cause a car to constantly overheat, but the most serious problem is often a bad radiator. Below, you will discover a few of the things that can cause a car to overheat so you will know how to go about resolving the problem.

1. The Cooling System is Full of Air

It is possible that the cooling system in your car is not receiving a sufficient amount of coolant if there is trapped air inside of the coolant lines. When air gets trapped in the coolant line, it creates a blockage that prevents the fluid from freely flowing through the cooling system. Your engine then begins to overheat because of the lack of coolant. It is important to hire a mechanic to bleed the coolant lines to get rid of the trapped air. If you wait too long for the repair, your car could spark up flames.

2. A Malfunctioning Water Pump

The water pump in your car plays a major role in preventing the engine from becoming too hot. Basically, the pump distributes water distributes water into the engine to keep the temperature at a safe level when you are driving. The water is taken from the radiator and then moves back into it after flowing through the engine. It is also possible that there is not enough water in your car for the pump to send to the engine.  You will likely need to get a new water pump installed if it is the root cause of your car overheating.

3. The Radiator is in Bad Shape

The radiator is the most important part of the cooling system because it is where the coolant is stored. If your car has an old radiator, there might be a large amount of rust on it. The bad thing about rust on a radiator is that it can contaminate the coolant before it travels to the engine. Your engine might malfunction when there are rust particles in the coolant, as the rust particles can also cause engine parts to produce friction as the coolant passes through.  You will can take your car to a mechanic to get the radiator inspected and find out if a new one should be installed. Contact an auto repair business, such as Mid-Atlantic Muffler & Brake, for more information.