What to Do When Your Engine Overheats
- Kill the A/C and crank the heat. Immediately turn off the air conditioner to reduce stress on the engine. ...
- Find a safe place to pull over. Pull over and shut off the car. ...
- Check and add coolant (if you have it). ...
- Restart the engine.
Can I drive my car after it overheats?
Driving your car when it's overheating can cause serious – and sometimes permanent – damage to your engine, so it's best to stop driving as soon as possible. Pull over and away from oncoming traffic, then turn off the engine.
How long does it take to fix overheated car?
Under normal circumstances, it takes a minimum of 30 minutes for an overheated engine to cool down to a temperature where it is safe to inspect it and potentially work on it.