April 25, 2021
You See Smoke Coming from Under Your Car’s Hood. What Now?
Photo by Tim Samuel under Pexels License
So, it’s finally the weekend and you decided to spend the day relaxing with your family on the beach. You all hop in your car, play your favorite tunes, and off you go to your favorite seaside. Moments later, you notice smoke coming from under the hood of your car, leading you to pull over and figure out what went wrong.
Overheating usually means there’s something wrong with your vehicle’s cooling system. Common causes include a faulty water pump, cooling system leak, clogged coolant hose, or a worn-out radiator fan.
Whatever the reason may be, it’s important to take remedial measures immediately. Here are the things you need to do if your car overheats in the middle of a trip:
- Turn off the AC and turn up the heat.
Switch off your air conditioner right away to ease the stress on the engine. Then, turn the dial to maximum heat. Doing this can help disperse the heat produced by the engine. Sure, you might feel a bit hot and sweaty at first, but a little sacrifice can save you from spending hundreds of dollars on major engine repairs.
- Look for a safe place to park.
It’s never a good idea to continue driving with an overheated car. Nobody wants their engine incurring serious or even permanent damages, which is why you should stop driving as soon as possible. Find a safe spot, pull over, shut off your vehicle, and allow the engine to cool for at least 15 minutes.
- Open the hood.
Allow excess heat to escape by opening your hood for several minutes. However, you should wait first until your car has cooled a bit before doing so. Otherwise, the hot steam could scald you.
- Check the coolant.
Take a look at your car’s coolant level and see if you’re running low. If so, a quick top-off can help keep your engine protected and avoid further overheating. Consult the owner’s manual if you can’t locate the coolant reservoir tank or if you need a guide in filling your coolant.
- Restart the engine.
Unless you’re getting your car towed, restart your engine after you’re done adding coolant. Keep a close eye on the temperature gauge while you drive to the nearest auto repair shop.
- Call for help.
If nothing seems to be working despite your best effort to fix the problem, then it’s time to contact an auto mechanic to assist you.
Here’s Your Best Option When Retiring an Old Car
Are you no longer interested in keeping an old car that frequently overheats and breaks down whenever you take it out for a drive? Do you think the time has come to retire it? There’s no easier and more meaningful way to do so than by donating it to us at Veteran Car Donations.
Besides the fact that you get to avoid the hassles and risks associated with selling an old car, simply handing over that vehicle to us will allow you to transform the lives of the struggling veterans in your community.
We’ll auction off your donated vehicle and use the proceeds to support the life-changing programs and services that our veteran-focused charity partners deliver to their beneficiaries. These IRS-certified 501(c)(3) nonprofits are dedicated to improving the living conditions of veterans who are suffering from service-related disabilities and mental health issues, unemployment, and homelessness due to lack of support. They provide their beneficiaries with quality free health care, financial aid, housing assistance, employment opportunities, family support, educational scholarships, psychotherapy services, and many other benefits.
As our donor, you’ll get to enjoy the maximum tax deduction based on the selling price of your vehicle during its auction. We’ll send you the 100% tax-deductible sales receipt of your car within days after its sale. You can then use this receipt to claim your tax write-off in the next tax season.
You’ll also benefit from our free pickup and towing service, which is available to our donors in all parts of the country.
Aside from the material rewards in store for you as our donor, you’ll also enjoy a most satisfying donating experience, knowing that your act of charity will help transform the lives of our nation’s heroes.
Aside from cars, we accept many other types of vehicles. Motorbikes, trailers, boats, snowmobiles, jet skis, trucks — you name it — we gladly take them all with open arms. For a complete list, you may visit this page.
Do you have a question or two for us? Ask one of our friendly donation experts by calling 877-594-5822 or send us a message here. You may also head over to our FAQs page to learn more about our donation process, tax deductions, and our towing service.
Be a Part of a Life-Changing Cause Today!
Photo by Nikita Belokhonov under Pexels License
A car that’s giving you plenty of headaches can give the suffering veterans in your area the chance to turn their lives around. Don’t miss this chance to turn your clunker into a life-changer. Call Veteran Car Donations at 877-594-5822 or fill out our online donation form now!
Last Updated: March 8th, 2023