Q: Car got hot and died

asked by on February 20, 2016

My temperature gauge went to all the way hot, and then my car just shut off.

Car is overheating Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

Hi. The car shuts off to protect itself as significant damage can occur without the proper amount of cooling. The first thing to check is make sure you have enough coolant. There may be 4 different lines on the tank, hot full, hot low, cold full, and cold low. The temperature refers to engine temperature not the temperature of the air. So if the car was just driven, make sure the level is above the "hot low" line. If the level is in between the low and full the car is ok to drive for short distances, but you should fill it all the way. Be sure to let the engine cool down before adding coolant. If the level is below the low line, I would not recommend driving the vehicle until coolant is added. One thing to note is that you should never have to add coolant to a vehicle so there is most likely a leak if you are low on coolant. It is possible for internal leaks to occur which would not leave a puddle underneath the car and can be difficult to locate. A certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, would be able to help you diagnose the cause of the overheating problem.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How do the door-mounted courtesy lights work?
The doors of your Accord are equipped with courtesy lights. They are designed to provide illumination to aid in getting into and out of the car in low-light situations. These lights are not adjustable. The light will turn on when...
Starting issue, fuel smell
A few things can cause rough starting like you have described. The usual culprits are issues with the battery (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-battery), starter (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-starter), fuel pump (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-fuel-pump), fuel filter (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-fuel-filter), or the ignition switch (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-ignition-switch). I'd recommend enlisting a qualified technician to...
Driver's side mirror moves straight up on its own
Your mirror switch should be disconnected after you adjust your mirrors to try and isolate a shorted mirror switch from a defective body module. If you have spilled any fluids on the mirror switch, it may be shorted inside and...
Why is my 2003 Honda Accord overheating? Could this be the reason?
First we must differentiate between the radiator cap and the coolant overflow reservoir cap. Most coolant overflow reservoir's don't have rubber on their caps, for this reason am not sure if your are describing the reservoir cap or the radiator...
adding oil to full synthetic
Hello. There is no problem with you adding a conventional oil to your vehicle if it already has synthetic in it. The only thing that you need to make sure of is that you are using the correct weight oil...
How fast and how long can I drive with a broken CV shaft?
Once the boot of the CV joint has broke open then over a short time the grease will be washed and slung out of the joint. At the same time you are losing the lube you are getting dirt, dust,...
It is hard to start my car - 2000 Honda CR-V
Hi there. A car that is difficult to start in the morning can be caused by a battery that is losing cold cranking amps, a faulty starter solenoid, distributor or ignition coils that are worn out, or fuel system components,...
Black soot and bad smell coming from the heater vents.
Hi there. Sounds like the cabin air filter to the heating and a/c system is degrading and peeling apart. The stuff that is coming out into the cabin area is a filter full of dirt and debris. I recommend replacing...

Related articles

How a Car's Cooling System Works
Have Have you ever considered the thousands of times explosions occur in your engine? If you're like most people, that thought never enters your mind. Every time a spark plug fires, the fuel and air mixture in that cylinder blows...
2012 Kia Soul vs. 2012 Nissan Cube: Which One Should I Buy?
While technically these two vehicles fall into the “small wagon” classification, they look like nothing more than boxes on wheels. Some people are really into this design, while others are completely opposed to it. If you’re in the former camp,...
How to Add Radiator Fluid
The radiator is at the heart of your car’s cooling system. This system directs radiator fluid or coolant around the engine’s cylinder...