CAR OVERHEATING WHEN DRIVEN ON MOTORWAY

There are several reasons why your Mini may be overheating. Some of the common causes include:

1. Low coolant levels: If the coolant levels in your Mini's radiator are low, it can cause the engine to overheat.
2. Faulty radiator: A radiator that is clogged or has a leak can prevent coolant from flowing properly, causing the engine to overheat.
3. Faulty thermostat: A malfunctioning thermostat can prevent the coolant from flowing through the engine, causing the engine to overheat.
4. Faulty water pump: If the water pump is not working properly, it can prevent the coolant from flowing through the engine, causing the engine to overheat.
5. Blockage in the engine cooling system: A blockage in the engine cooling system can prevent coolant from flowing through the engine, causing the engine to overheat.
6. Overheating of other components: Overheating of alternator, A/C compressor, power steering pump, etc can also cause the engine to overheat as these components are driven by the engine and they add extra load on the engine.

If you suspect that your Mini is overheating, it's important to have it checked by a professional as soon as possible to prevent further damage to the engine.

overheats at idle only are typically the fan system. Cars use the fan to pull air across the radiator for cooling. Any speed over 10 mph there is more than enough natural wind to do this without a fan. If the problem immediately goes away when you start moving, it is probably a malfunction or issue with the fan. I have on more than 1 occaision had a customer tell me they had the fan replaced and car was still overheating, and it ended up thje fan was spinning backwards or not turning on because of a fuse or relay issue.

If it doesnt cool down fully once speed is above 20mph for more than 30 seconds, there may be other issues like plugged radiator or weak water pump impellars. water pump is a fan that moves water instead of the air. if the blades wear, they still kinda work, but at idle they work poorly because the broken blades only move a little air at low speed, rev the engine up, they spin faster and work better. If the fan is functioning OK (Turns on and off by itself) and car still runs warmer at idle than at rev, water pump may be worth investigation.

-Make sure the system is not clog. (flush with garden water hose in both direction)
-Make sure the radiator's fins are not clog. This is the biggest problem that the Mechanic can't figure out.
*If the fins are clog, Best thing to clean is use presure washer. Carefull ! Do not aim too closed and angle. You'll damage the fins)

This will take care the problem.

Mai

For car running hot and overheating issues, I suggest to you go through this help links. Click this link below and go through the troubleshooting procedure to take care of the problems: ----Car runs hot? http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-runs-hot-in-traffic.html
-----------All types of car overheating problems and troubleshooting?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2011/11/all-types-of-car-overheating-problems.html
Car freeze overnight and started overheating while driving?http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/car-freeze-overnight-and-started.html-----------Engine Overheats and heater blowing cold?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/engine-overheats-and-heater-blowing.html

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Car overheats and Air blows hot at idle?
http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-overheats-and-air-blows-hot-at-idle.html
--------overheating? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/buick-century-overheating.html
----------Car engine Overheats and transmission starts slipping?http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-engine-overheats-and-transmission.html
----------This details will help.Thanks.

For car running hot and overheating issues, I suggest to you go through this help links. Click this link below and go through the troubleshooting procedure to take care of the problems: ----

temp gauge goes erratic? http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/heater-blows-intermittently-and-temp.html

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Temperature gauge keeps fluctuating up and down close to red? http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/temperature-gauge-keeps-fluctuating-up.html

--------

Car runs hot? http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-runs-hot-in-traffic.html
-----------All types of car overheating problems and troubleshooting?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2011/11/all-types-of-car-overheating-problems.html
Car freeze overnight and started overheating while driving?http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/car-freeze-overnight-and-started.html-----------Engine Overheats and heater blowing cold?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/engine-overheats-and-heater-blowing.html

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Car overheats and Air blows hot at idle?
http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-overheats-and-air-blows-hot-at-idle.html
--------overheating? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/buick-century-overheating.html
----------Car engine Overheats and transmission starts slipping?http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-engine-overheats-and-transmission.html
----------

Temperature gauge does not move and no heat when heater is ON? http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/temperature-gauge-does-not-move-and-no.html

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This details will help.Thanks.

The impellers may have been damaged on the water pump remove inspect.

Whats the temp?How do you know its overheating

It's overheating.  check thermostat and water pump, also radiator coolant levels.  once you get it running at normal temp again take it to the shop and have them do a chemical test to see if the head gasket was damaged or the block was warped or cracked as this usually happens when your car overheats.

Water pumps can stall out, but do you have air trapped in system.
Had you recently had the system "open" to replace hose, thermostat, temp sensor. Some Ford and GM have a bleeder screw on a high point in cooling system to bleed out trapped air.

Check your trans fluid color. Since the trans cooler is built into radiator (automatics)

IF the engine is overheating the trans CAN overheat
IF the trans is overheating the engine CAN overheat

They share the same cooling source and trans fluid gets hotter than oil, but yet it has a wimpy cooler built into radiator. Maybe add trans oil cooler to system.

Also outside temp affects the cool down rate of the radiator, ie...hot air trying to cool down hot radiator/engine is less effecting than cool air cooling hot radiator/engine

Hi,

I had the same problem with my 1993 Liberty LX. Remove the thermostat (located inside bottom radiator hose engine connection - take the connection off and thermostat is inside). Reassemble (minus thermostat), reconnect bottom hose. Slowly (very, very slowly) refill the radiator and remove the bleed plug ( located beside the top hose connection to the radiator - a black square plug with a phillips head cross in the middle). When the radiator is full and clear water (no air bubbles) is coming out of the bleed point, replace the bleed plug and then the radiator cap.

Run the engine for five minutes (approx) or until normal engine temperature is reached. Allow the engine to cool down and recheck the water level - fill if necessary ensuring that the bleed plug is open and clear water is coming out of that point. Replace Bleed plug and then radiator cap. Run engine for five minutes (approx) and then test dive. If the engine overheats keep filling the radiator until there are no air bubbles coming from out of the bleed point.

This fixed my overheating problem. Good luck and safe motoring.