Engine Overheating? - 9 Steps to Solve

Is your car engine overheating? Does your cars motor run hot? In this video, I explain how-to troubleshoot and diagnose an overheating engine in 9 simple steps. I show you how to tell if each system is working properly. This happens to be a cooling system from a Jeep Cherokee but the same rules apply across all makes and models including jeep, dodge, ford, chevy, toyota, and almost all others.

9 Steps:
1 - Clean Coolant?
2 - Radiator Debris?
3 - Leaks?
4 - Air Burp?
5 - Lower Radiator Hose Spring?
6 - Electric Fan?
7 - Thermostat?
8 - Water Pump?
9 - Fan Clutch?

*This product is meant for entertainment purposes only. Your mileage may vary. Do not try this at home. Void where prohibited. Some assembly required. For off-road use only. Slippery when wet. Batteries not included. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle, heavy equipment, cherokee XJ, wrangler TJ, wrangler JK, or any Jeep vehicle, especially the newer Fiat ones. How-to videos may be too intense for some viewers and children under 30 years of age. Please remain seated until the 4x4 ride has come to a complete stop. Studies have shown viewing these videos causes increased cancer risks in laboratory test people. I am not a professional, I have no training, I'm not even particularly good at horse whispering. Don't believe everything that you know. Please keep your hands in the vehicle at all times. Do not tap on glass. Do not eat anything that has been on the floor for more than 3 days. Keep your hands to yourself. Not to be taken internally. Reproduction strictly prohibited. Driver does not carry cash. Objects in Bleepinjeep mirrors may be farther than they appear.*

[ibberman]

Man, I really like your relaxed attitude when explaining how things work, you are very thorough. Thank you !

[stefanhamilton]

I appreciate how mellow you are, it made me feel a lot more relaxed about having a go at fixing this problem myself. Great presentation and very informative.

[martyisabeliever]

Been in the automotive business for 25+ years and concur with all you presented here....welll done

[RustyShacklefardd]

I love your tutorials I have 96 Jeep Cherokee classic and every time something breaks this is where I end up

[JDR]

Great video,   You certainly cannot cover every possible issue but you covered 95% of them.   Like your systematic explanation.  I could used this as a learning tool to teach my kids about how engines work.  Can you do one on brakes and oil pressure next?  Hats off you.  Thanks

[KentuckyFriedClassic]

when i got my xj the blades on my auxiliary fan (the electic one) where gone . i went and got a new one, installed it and wired to a toggle switch . greatest choice ive ever made . for the most part i can control my engine temp :)

[Cesar-xyfd]

Hi. I live in tropical country. I have sometime (not always) problem with overheating of engine when in traffic or in stand still. This happen like around 10 time in a year.

Some information as follows:
- the car is Isuzu Alterra diesel engine with clutch fan
- the radiator cap is ok
- radiator unit is new (i use the original radiator)
- radiator level is ok.
- no radiator leak. I never top off the radiator fluid.
- i use fully coolant fluid
- no plastic blocking the front of the radiator
- air condition fan unit is working (it switch on and off)
- when no engine over heat, the air con give cool air
- air con evaporator unit is clean (new cabin filter)
- clutch fan seem to work because i check the RPM (with non contact rpm tester/tachometer). The tachometer RPM at tester unit show same as the RPM at the car Gauge tachometer. Clutch fan is not easy to rotate when engine is at operating temperature. Clutch fan spin more freely when engine temp is cool.

When engine overheat, the aircon blow hot air as well

One time, when engine overheat, i switch OFF the air-con unit, slowly the engine temperature go down to normal engine temperature.

May i ask for your recommendation why my car sometime overheat when in traffic.

[brucebearfeld]

Jeep Cheorkee 2000. 140K Miles. rusted out radiator (too much water) March. replaced with new one, thermostat and engine flush - fan shroud broke, did not replace. Worked fine through NorCal, OR, WA, ID, UT, NV, AZ - 2000miles. Overheated once in MT. Split upper radiator hose. Replaced. Once back in SoCal, overheated. Lower hose replaced.
Ran fine for 3 weeks. Then, began overheating on slight grade, or after running for 20m driving. Could let it sit for 90m at idle with AC on full, nothing. Drive it up a grade, or for 20m overheat. One too many times and Cracked head between Cylinders 3/4. Replaced head. New fan, water pump. radiator cap. Still overheats on grade or after 15m. Had Firestone do cooling systems check. Passed block test, another radiator cap and tightened hose clamps. Said it was good to go. Still overheats on grade. I've had five Cheorkees - still have two - and get 200K miles + out of each. Any ideas?

[PewLand]

I love how informative and professional your videos are. Good work man

[billsmith]

When flushing the system, I recommend also reverse flushing . Especially the heater core . I have had heaters that were only warm come back to life with a reverse flush - directly on the core . Deposits build up over time and cut down on the heat . Also on the radiators, the tubes can get restricted . You can use a laser thermometer to check ALL the tubes . They are usually colder in the middle of the radiator if clogged . You can also put your hand on the tubes to check for cold areas - if you can get it in there . BUT you don't want your hand near an electric fan, even when not running . If hot, they can still turn on with the ignition off .

[luisgarcia-wbrh]

Hey Man thanks a lot for the video, it helped me figure out my stupid mistake. I have a 01 Intrepid rt 3.5, and it kept overheating after i tried to fix a mess with the fan wires. I had one of the fans pushing air instead of extracting it, I never would have thought to look at the direction they were blowing. All fixed now. Guy i bought it from thought it was the water pump, but he just didnt have things connected correctly. The reservoir tank was connected wrong too. Saved myself a few hundred dollars at the shop and future headaches thanks to this video!!!

[jameslamb]

"Harmonic Balancer" I recently learned the inner rubber membrane can break down and cause the water pump to not circulate water fast enough. To check this, see if the outside of the Harmonic Balancer turns at the same rate of speed as the center of the Harmonic Balancer bolted to the Crankshaft. Yes, it will separate and damage the radiator.

[avexp]

The clutch fan on my '88 Cherokee didn't budge with the engine off. It still spun when the engine was running, but the clutch was seized. I found a couple of fans at a junkyard that still spun freely and swapped out the original for one of the junkyard fans. Had to pull the radiator, but got it done.

[doingitdavy]

The engine diagram was helpful. But great video overall and the uphill vsm downhill camera trick was great. Bravo.

[yvonnekemp]

oh and btw i love how you explained the whole coolant system and i love that you speak clear english too, and not too fast. this is a great vid and i am going to save it so i can actually go thru each step to figure out what is wrong with my truck and why it's overheating. watching ur vid make me(YES A WOMAN) confident i will find what the problem is then get it fixed. so thanks so nuch and yes i have subscribed to your channel!!! thanks: yvonne k. tennessee

[tempestlester]

Hey just went through a night mare for a weird over heating problem in my 2010 Jeep Liberty found out after a thermostat then water pump then radiator and five days later found out that the thermostats from part stores will not work in this vehicular you have to get them from car dealer because rectory thermostats are specials ; my car would over heat as I got up to speed of 65 if I stayed at 55 or slower it would not over heat this is just info if your out there having problems like this yes it was a feascail but it runs awesome now

[McMullenCharlie]

Great have been other mechanics who gave you thumbs down out of jealousy. You told everything an inexperienced mechanic needs to know!

[galacticpondofficial]

Wow, Im genuinely impressed. Sonetimes when the car gets stressfull, its nice to hear someone being calm. Good reset while figuring things out

[charlesbaldridge]

Man let me tell you sometime you what you are talkin about appreciate you people that watching video he knows what he is talking about again thank you young man thank you thank you thank you I will share this video with anybody that has a problem with their cooling system thank you thank you thank you thank you stay safe and again I appreciate you young man

[balledegle]

What about a partially clogged radiator?