Raleigh NC Auto Cooling System Repair
Multiple generations of Raleigh drivers have relied on Triangle Car Care for all of their auto repair needs. Since 1969, we have provided the highest quality of ASE-certified auto maintenance, including cooling system repair. If you have problems with your cooling system or need its routine maintenance, bring your car, truck or SUV into Triangle Car Care on Glenwood Avenue.
What is a cooling system?
When you drive your car, the engine and all of its parts get very hot. In fact, going a speed of 50 miles per hour produces about 4,000 mini-explosions per minute within a four-cylinder engine. These controlled explosions produce enough heat to destroy the same engine that requires them to operate. This is why you need a working cooling system in your car.
From the very first engine-operated cars, cooling systems have relied on the same basic parts. These parts are more advanced today than ever before, but they still perform the same function as they did in the 1920s. These parts and fluids include liquid coolant that circulates through your car’s engine, then flows out to the radiator. In this unit, air circulates from the front grille of your car, truck or SUV to cool the liquid.
Regardless of outdoor temperature, it is the job of your car’s cooling system to keep your engine’s temperature constant. Engines that run too cold result in poor fuel economy and high emissions. Engines running too hot break down.
Parts of your car’s cooling system include:
- Radiator
- Cooling Fans
- Pressure Cap & Reserve Tank
- Water Pump
- Thermostat
- Temperature Gauge
- Bypass System
- Freeze Plugs
- Head Gaskets & Intake Manifold Gaskets
- Heater Core
- Hoses
How the Cooling System Works
The cooling system in your vehicle is either a liquid cooled system or an air cooled system. Older cars tend to use the air cooling method, whereas vehicles after the 1970s typically rely on a liquid cooling method. Regardless of your car’s age or type of cooling system, the friendly auto repair experts of Triangle Car Care perform cooling system repair and get you back on the road quickly.
A cooling system includes passages routing through the engine block and heads, as well as interconnected hoses to route the coolant from the engine for cooling. Through these hoses, a water pump circulates the liquid coolant that is temperature-controlled by a thermostat. If you operate your car’s cabin heater, the heated liquid routes through hoses to perform that function. Otherwise, a radiator cools the heated liquid after it runs through the engine, while a pressure cap controls the system’s pressure.
Liquid coolant flowing through passages in the engine and through its block and heads picks up heat from the engine and carries it into the radiator. There, the coolant flows through thin tubes toward the front of your car. As the outside air stream enters the engine compartment, this air cools the fluid. The cooled fluid then recirculates and repeats the cycle.
All of this flowing activity relies on the fully functioning water pump, passages and hoses. A thermostat ensures that the coolant stays above a preset temperature. If the liquid runs too hot, the liquid is instead routed through a bypass to the engine.
The pressure of the cooling system keeps coolant from boiling. But too much pressure causes parts to burst, such as the hoses. A properly working pressure cap releases excessive pressure by design.
As you can see, the radiator and other parts of your cooling system play a major role in keeping your car running as it should. You need to ensure you keep up with your manufacturer-recommended maintenance of these important parts. For that maintenance, cooling system repair and any other auto repair needs, bring your vehicle into Triangle Car Care.
Cooling System Repair at Triangle Car Care
Triangle Car Care’s experienced auto mechanics perform routine cooling system maintenance and cooling system repair. Typical maintenance includes a visual inspection and heating and air conditioning tests.
Visual inspection:
- Interior controls and blower
- Antifreeze level, hoses, pressure cap and temperature control
- The A/C compressor belt for condition and tension
- Leaks or other damage
- Component condition, leaks or damage
Heating and air conditioning tests:
- Pressure test engine cooling system
- A/C system pressure measurement and comparison to manufacturer’s specifications
- A/C system leak testing
- Heater and A/C performance testing
If you suspect problems with your car’s cooling system or need cooling system repair, bring your vehicle into Triangle Car Care in Raleigh. You can schedule cooling system repair or service by calling (919)787-0966 today.
