QuestionI have a 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe. The temperature gauge has been rising to a level I've never seen before. (about 3/4...almost in the red) The car seems to cool off when I'm driving continuously, but once I'm at a stop, it heats up again. Any clues? What should I check?
AnswerIf the temperature stays low when you're at steady speed, that tends to indicate that you have good coolant flow, so we can eliminate things like a clogged radiator or stuck thermostat.
When the car cools, check your coolant level in the radiator. If it's more than a little low, top it off (radiator and reservoir) and check for leaks.
If the coolant is okay, start the engine and observe the radiator fans. Once the car reaches operating temperature, the fan should begin cycling on and off. If the vehicle begins to overheat without the fan cycling, you should expect that there's a problem in the coolant temperature sensor circuit or the fan control circuit.
If the fan cycles and keeps the temperature out of the red (and your coolant level is normal), I wouldn't worry about it. It's probably okay. But if the temperature ever does enter the red zone, you should turn off the engine immediately.
