ok i have a problem, new with cars so bare with me, i was drivin my car the other day, and i saw the tem gauge jus race up to the H, and when i sstopped the car it started smoking, so i went home and left it, but while i was drivin home it was rippin, idunno, my dad sed i shouldnt have drivin it and thats about it, i am wondering, what should i do to stop the overheating, what could the problem be? thanx in advance for your help

 

bad radiator?
radiator has a crack/leaking?
no antifreeze/coolant?
bad temp relay (not telling fan to come on)?
bad fan motor (fans not spinning)?
waterpump needs to be changed?

just to an a few possibilities
for me itwas radiator cracked, bad relay and waterpump needed changing/fixing

 

how can i check if it eneds antifreeze/coolant, cuz i have that here at home, i really dont wanna drive the car in this condition, cant even go around the block without it overheating

 

well at first look at the coolant bottle not sure where that is in your car in mine its up near the radiator next to the battery yours might be there too. its a off white bottle (probably yellow'ish white from being old) after that with the car off open the radiator cap and see if you see any fluid there.

 

ok i see that the coolant is low, but do i mix water with it, or should i just fill it up with the coolant

 

hmmmm no i normally buy the ready mixed kind thats coolant and antifreeze together. you should refill the bottle and always check to make sure its w/i range. outside of that did the radiator have fuild in it? if it does then you have to get the car checked out. an easy way to check to see if the radiator is cracked is pour fuild in it and watch it for a few if you see it running on the floor then you got a crack which can be sealed or in my case replaced

 

oh it is mixed, so i dont have to add water, ok thats kool, also, u are saying i should add fluid in the radiator and see if it leaks? this will tell me if i need to get something checked?

 

well if you radiator leaks then you found your problem and an alumnium radiator isnt that much to get and install. if your radiator doesnt leak then you have to get it looked at. either way i would get it looked at cuz it could be any number of the things i listed when i 1st posted

 

ok i jus took the car around the block, it drove good for a while, much longer than usual (i got to the gas station) but then i started heating up again, it didnt smoke, but when i got out the car, and i went to take a look at it, the cooling fan was acting weird, and i could hear the cooling fan relay makin a clicking sound and the fan going on and off...could this be the problem?

 

Turn on the heater! it works