My car engine heat what causes that

SMESH

MEMBER
2003 OPEL CORSA
2,000 MILES

My car has a liter 1.6 engine. The engine heat and the car will turn off while the fun run to cool it with water not boiling being cool. I do not know what is the problem. Can you help me? After the has turned off after some few minutes it will start when the engine is cool. Please can you help me?

1 Reply

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,475 POSTS

A hot engine can be caused by many things. A bad thermostat, bad water pump, plugged radiator, bad head gasket, even just the engine running lean can cause it.

Step one would be to pressure test the system to see if it will hold pressure. If it does then you are probably seeing a bad thermostat or water pump. If it does not and you do not see any external leaks then it could be a head gasket.

The engine shuts down as a protection system. Just like a human can pass out from excessive heat.