The radiator is a complex piece of machinery, and its sole purpose is to remove excess heat from your engine. It is a very robust component, designed to operate under conditions of great heat and pressure. All mechanical parts will, however, wear out eventually and need to be replaced. In New Carrollton, MD
your Chrysler dealer is here to help you when you
need a radiator repair, and we have listed some of the signs to watch for.
Leaking Coolant
Coolant is a mix of antifreeze and distilled water, and its purpose is to absorb heat from your engine and carry it to the radiator. In your radiator, the hot coolant is cooled and recirculated through the engine. This coolant moves under high pressure, and as with any high-pressure system, a small leak can grow larger very quickly.
Coolant is usually green, but it can also be pink or yellow, so it is easy to spot a leak. The leak may be from a damaged radiator hose or one of the hose clamps may have loosened. As coolant is lost, the cooling system will start to fail, and your engine temperature will increase dramatically. We will find and fix the leak, and it can be as simple as replacing a worn part.
Overheating When Idling
It's not abnormal for a slight temperature rise when your car is idling, as the cooling system relies on a huge amount of airflow through the radiator grille to reduce the coolant temperature. If your temperature gauge spikes when you are idling though, there may be a serious problem with your radiator. When the engine temperature is too high, a fan behind the radiator should switch on to blow over the radiator tubes to cool them.
A faulty radiator fan may be due to a blown fuse, which is quick and easy to replace, but it could also mean that the radiator fan is broken. The fan is integral to the radiator, and if it stops working, we will need to replace the radiator itself to fix the problem.
A Clogged Radiator
Mineral deposits can build up in the radiator and block the radiator hoses and pipes. Without sufficient coolant flow, your engine can start to overheat. The solution usually depends on whether or not there are signs of rust on the radiator. If there is rust, the radiator must be replaced, as it is permanently weakened. It is more common, however, that the radiator is in good condition, and we will flush the radiator and fill it with fresh coolant.
Get Radiator Repairs at Our New Carrollton Service Department
If you have trouble with your radiator,
call our service department at DARCARS Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of New Carrollton and
schedule an appointment. We are the experts in
Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and RAM and we can also fix any other make or model of vehicle. Our expert technicians and high-quality service will get the job done for you.