Engine overheating or coolant warning light on?

Do not drive on, because according to the ANWB the engine can suffer serious damage. While driving, turn the heater to its hottest setting and the fan to its highest setting, and switch the air con off. That draws heat away until you can stop safely. Then stop in a safe place, switch the engine off and call your roadside assistance.

If the coolant warning light is on or the temperature gauge is climbing, the engine is too hot or there is too little coolant. If the light is red, stop as soon as it is safe. On some cars the light is orange when only the level is low. Check your car’s handbook to see what the light means on your car.

Yes, but only once the engine has cooled down. According to the ANWB, you wait at least a quarter of an hour with the bonnet open. Then open the cap slowly and carefully, with a cloth over your hand. Hot coolant is under pressure, can spray out and is poisonous. Top up to a little below the maximum mark. If in doubt, leave it to your roadside assistance.

Yes, but only in an emergency, says the ANWB. Water does not protect against frost and rust. Have the cooling system checked and the coolant replaced as soon as possible afterwards. Use the coolant specified in the handbook, because mixing different types can cause problems.

The most common causes are a leak in the cooling system, a failed water pump, a thermostat that stays closed, a cooling fan that does not come on and a blocked or leaking radiator. Sometimes the head gasket is the cause. Hard driving, such as towing a caravan in the mountains, can also make the engine hot. We test the whole cooling system and tell you what we find.

Then the cooling fan is often not working properly. On the motorway the airflow cools the radiator, but in a traffic jam the fan has to do that. According to the ANWB, the fan should come on after about ten minutes when a warm engine is idling. If you hear nothing, something is probably wrong.

Yes, because coolant does not normally run out. If you keep having to top up, according to the ANWB there is usually a technical problem, such as a leak or a failed gasket. Do not keep topping up and driving on. Have the cooling system tested before the engine overheats.

Yes. Heat can damage the head gasket and warp the cylinder head. That is why stopping quickly is so important. The other way round, a failed head gasket can also cause the engine to overheat. Read more about a failed head gasket.

We test the cooling system under pressure, look for leaks, check the water pump, the thermostat, the radiator and the cooling fan, and read out the fault codes. That way you do not replace a part that is still fine. Then you hear what is wrong, what the repair costs and how long it takes.

That depends entirely on the cause. A hose or a thermostat is a very different job from a water pump behind the timing belt or a head gasket. That is why we find the cause first. You hear the price in advance and we only start once you agree. Read more about the costs of the water pump, the radiator and the head gasket.

The ANWB recommends checking the level every month, with the engine cold and the car parked as level as possible. The level should be between the minimum and maximum marks on the reservoir.

Yes. A hybrid has a combustion engine with a cooling system. An electric car has a cooling system for the battery and the electric motor. A warning can appear there too. Our mechanics hold the GMTO certificate (the Dutch qualification for working on high-voltage systems), so they can work on hybrid and electric cars. Read more about hybrid servicing.

Yes, up to 3,500 kg. Heavy vehicles and motorhomes with a full load are the ones most likely to overheat in summer or in the mountains. Read more about van repairs and motorhome repairs.

Yes. Our repairs come with a warranty. When we give you the quote, we tell you which warranty applies. We only start once you agree.

If you cannot drive any further, have your roadside assistance bring the car to us. We do not have our own tow truck. Outside opening hours the car can be parked in front of our door at your own risk, with the key in an envelope in our letterbox. Read more under breakdowns on the road. If you can still drive, call +31 10 479 00 00 during opening hours.