My temperature warning light is on. Is it okay to drive the car?

My temperature warning light is on. Is it okay to drive the car?
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Not unless you want to risk damaging your engine. When the temperature light comes on, it means your engine is overheating. An engine should not overheat if the cooling system is properly filled and is working normally -- even during hot weather or stop-and-go driving. Sometimes abnormal driving conditions such as towing a heavy trailer during hot weather may overload the cooling system's capacity to control heat, but usually a temperature warning light means trouble.

What To Do:

Stop driving immediately, pull over to the side of the road, shut the engine off and wait for things to cool down.
WARNING: Do not attempt to open the radiator! The radiator contains hot water under high pressure. Opening the cap could allow steam and water to blow out and burn you. There's nothing to be accomplished by opening the cap while the engine is still hot, so let your vehicle sit and cool off.
After things have cooled down (wait at least half an hour or more), then you can open the radiator cap and check the coolant level if you think it might be low. Place a rag over the cap first, and slowly turn the cap until it stops at the first detent. This should allow residual pressure to be released. Wait until all pressure has been released before removing the cap the rest of the way.
Add water to the radiator if it is low. Actually, you should add a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and water to maintain the proper freezing, boilover and corrosion protection. But in most cases when this happens, it's an emergency situation and you don't have a jug of antifreeze handy. If that's the case, you'll have to add antifreeze later.
Visually inspect the system for leaks. Common leak points include radiator and heater hoses, the water pump and the radiator. Internal leaks (such as a crack in the head or engine) can't be seen and can only be diagnosed by pressure testing the cooling system.
See related question #14 for other causes of overheating.

If You Don’t Stop Driving...

If you keep driving an engine that is overheating, it can cause serious damage. The engine may start to knock (caused by detonation), which in turn can cause piston, ring and head gasket damage. As the internal parts of the engine expand from the excessive heat, clearances may be reduced to the point where metal-to-metal contact occurs. Valve stems may gall and stick, and the pistons and camshaft might scuff or seize.
Severe overheating also creates tremendous thermal stress in the head(s) and block. This, in turn, may lead to cracking and/or warpage. This is a common problem with overhead cam engines that have aluminum heads.
The only vehicle that can be "safely" driven when the temperature warning light is on a late model Cadillac with a Northstar V8 engine. Cadillac engineers designed the engine control system to automatically deactivate half of the engine's cylinders if it senses an overheating problem. This reduces the heat (and power) being generated by the engine, and it allows the "dead" cylinders to pump air through the engine for internal cooling. The system is designed to provide a "limp-in" mode so the vehicle can be driven to the nearest service facility or Cadillac dealer for repairs. It is not designed for continuous driving.

WHEEL ALIGNMENT

There are a few common things you might notice when it’s time for a wheel alignment service:

• Pulls
  Your car steering “pulls” in one direction. Oftentimes this is caused by a steering angle that is out of adjustment. Sometimes, an under-inflated or faulty tire can cause a phenomena called “radial pull.”
• Wandering
  You find it hard to keep your car from wandering over the travel lane. A misadjusted caster angle is most likely the cause of this concern. Think of the caster angle like the forks on a motorcycle. The more severe angle on the forks equals more caster. This angle has a great impact on the ability of the car to maintain a straight line.
• Play
  Instead of feeling in precise control of your steering you feel “play” or “slack” from the steering wheel to the turn of the wheels. Any worn suspension or steering components can cause this problem.
• Clunking or rubbing noise
  Rubbing or clunking when going over bumps, turning or stopping is a steering and suspension warning. Like slack in the steering, any worn suspension or steering components can cause this problem.
• Tire wear
  Your vehicle tire wear becomes uneven. A combination of misadjusted steering angles and/or worn components will cause this concern. Sometimes abusive driving or improperly inflated tires can contribute to this problem. This problem is extremely dangerous because the tires prematurely wear exposing a very thin section of the tire to the forces of the vehicle and the road.
• Car bottoms out
  If your car bottoms out when going over bumps, then worn shocks, struts or suspension components are a likely culprit. We strongly recommend having your alignment checked before any of these repairs are attempted so that all the components can be checked to minimize the possibility of having a repeat repair visit. If you have a strut equipped vehicle, you will need your alignment reset after having your struts replaced.
• Replacing tires too often
  Misadjusted suspension angles and/or improperly inflated tires are the most common reasons for this problem. In most cases, a proper alignment will fix this problem.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT

A glowing or flashing CHECK ENGINE or SERVICE ENGINE SOON light alerts you to problems in the vehicle’s onboard diagnostic system that should be checked out as soon as possible. Oftentimes you won’t notice a difference in vehicle performance.

• Check the Gas Cap
  First, check the gas cap to make sure it wasn’t left loose after refueling. Sometimes, this can trigger the light. If the gas cap was left loose, the light should go out after a few short trips. If the gas cap wasn’t the problem and the light remains on, make an appointment to have the vehicle checked as soon as possible.
• Flashing
  A light that flashes requires more prompt attention as it indicates there is a serious problem that must be checked out immediately to prevent damage to the catalytic converter. When you experience a flashing light, minimize driving at high speeds or under heavy loads.

CAR STEERING REPAIR

There are a few common things you might notice when your car’s steering needs to be repaired or serviced:

• Whining or whirring noise.
• Harder to steer.
• Red or clear fluid leaks.

Keeping your power steering system clean by flushing is the best way to insure against expensive power steering system failures. We recommend flushing the system at least every 50,000 miles.

CAR OVERHEATING

Temperature gauge reads high.

Steam or smoke coming from under the hood.

Check engine light turns on.

Overheating warning lamp turns on.

Sweet odor coming from the car.

Coolant reservoir appears low.

CAR NOT RUNNING RIGHT

There are a few common things you might notice when your car is not running right:

• Vibration: You feel more vibration than usual in the steering wheel when the vehicle is idling at a stop.
• Gas Mileage: You notice that you are filling up at the gas station more frequently than usual.
• Check engine light: Your check engine light or service engine light comes on steady or blinking.
• Smoke: You see smoke coming from the tailpipe.

These problems are typically a same day repair as long as the vehicle is brought in for care as soon as the problem is observed. Otherwise, unexpected problems can arise adding time and expense to the service visit.

CAR ELECTRICAL REPAIR

There are a few common things you might notice when your car needs electrical repair:

• Battery dies.
• Battery warning light is on.
• Turn signals don’t work or blink too fast.
• Lights don’t dim properly.
• Power windows or mirrors don’t work.
• Burning electrical smell.

CAR AIR CONDITIONING REPAIR

There are a few common signals you might notice when your car’s air conditioner needs a recharge service or repair:

• Hot air blowing
  This is most commonly due to a refrigerant leak. A quick check you can do at home is to start the car, turn on the a/c and see if the compressor comes on. If it does not, you have an electrical problem or a refrigerant leak. If it does, it is likely that you have a control or circulation issue. Additionally, there could be a control problem causing the heat to turn on.
• No air blowing
  A blown fuse is often the cause of this problem. Another possible, but rare reason, is a faulty dashboard fan or blower switch. If replacing the fuse does not repair the problem, you will need a certified electrician to diagnose the root cause of the problem.
• Strange smell
  This problem is characterized by a musty or mildew odor when the fan is turned on. This condition can indicate that mold or mildew is growing in the evaporator box requiring a cleaning procedure to eliminate this smell.
• Odd noises
  A drive belt makes the air conditioning compressor turn keeping the cooling refrigerant circulating. If the belt is worn, stretched or cracked it can slip or break therefore causing it to make noise or stopping the compressor altogether. When this happens, circulation stops and the air conditioner quits cooling. This can also cause serious damage to other engine systems.

CAR BRAKE REPAIR

There are a few common signals you might notice when your car’s brakes need to be serviced or repaired:

• Squeal
  Your brakes squeal when coming to a stop or while driving.
• Light
  Your brake warning light comes on.
• Pulls
  Your vehicle pulls to one side when braking instead of stopping in a straight line.
• Pulsate
  Your car pulsates to a stop when you use the brakes.
• Grinding
  Your brakes grind continuously producing a loud metallic sound.
• Mushy
  Your brake pedal is either “mushy” or too hard to press down.
• Pump
  You must pump the brakes to get them to work right.
• Heat
  One or more of your wheels are excessively hot after a short drive.

CAR SERVICE CENTER IN KUWAIT

AUTOMAX WORLD CAR SERVICE CENTER IN KUWAIT  is a trustworthy, neighborly and professional auto service center dedicated to taking care of our customers with state-of-the-art auto repair technology allowing us to identify nearly any automotive problem on nearly any vehicle. We are committed to providing our customers with the highest quality service at the lowest possible costs and getting them back on the road in less than one day. We are proud of our industry-leading 99.2% customer satisfaction rating and creating life-long relationships with our customers.

MECHANICAL WORK IN KUWAIT

We do all types of repairs on

1) Engine
2) Transmission
3) Differential
4) Brakes suspension
5) Steering
6) Cooling 
7) Exhaust systems
8)Hydraulics

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