Your radiator could be one of the aspects of the vehicle that you often get overlooked until it starts having problems. A radiator is the most important part of your cooling or heating system. The thermostat releases engine coolant, or antifreeze, from your radiator into your engine when the engine gets too hot.

It has narrow tubes that are designed to efficiently disperse heat to keep the engine at the proper working temperature. The radiator protects the engine from overheating by cooling the fluid that circulates the block and dissipates the heat generated by the engine.

When you see smoke emerging from the boiler, that means the radiator has failed to do its function and the vehicle has overheated as a consequence. Knowing the radiator’s importance, you should know by now that looking after it can avoid greater problems in the future. Here are some of the most common problems that should be taken into consideration.

• Leak: Leaky hoses are the most popular source of radiator leaks, but you may even get leaks in the radiator itself, which may be a bigger issue. Observe if the coolant volume begins to drop dramatically, it could be a sign of leakage that may cause the engine to overheat regularly.
• Rust: Check the radiator for rust if your car is running too hot. You can tell if the color of your coolant appears brownish then the culprit is rust. If you drive your car in cold weather, you should be extra careful to avoid rust.
• Air: The presence of air pockets reduces coolant volume, resulting in higher-than-normal working temperatures. It creates steam pockets in the line that serve as plugs, blocking the coolant to continuously flow. That is why you end up overheating.
• Overheating: This is the most common problem that you may encounter when it comes to radiators. A broken radiator fan is a typical culprit if the temperature gauge spikes when you’re stuck in traffic, idling, or driving low speed.
• Low Coolant Level: A leak elsewhere in the system is the most possible cause of low coolant levels. It could be small holes in the radiator which could lead to serious engine damage.

The best thing to do if you observe any coolant leakage, engine overheating, low coolant, or sludge in your radiator, call a mechanic to get your cooling system repaired.

The alternator is an alternating current electrical generator that transforms mechanical energy into electrical energy. This important component in your vehicle recharges your car’s battery.

A coil and brushes are among the alternator’s components. An electrical charge is produced as the brushes rotate on the axle and “rub” the coil.

The alternator, like all other parts of a vehicle, is subject to natural wear and tear. It can need to be fixed or replaced over time. The below are a few things to keep an eye out for.

• Warning indicator light: If you see the indicator light flickering, it may be the first indication that something is wrong.
• Dim or flickering headlights: This may indicate that the alternator isn’t producing enough power to meet the vehicle’s electrical requirements.
• Problems starting or stalling: If the alternator isn’t running correctly, likely, the battery isn’t being charged properly. When this happens, you’ll either have more trouble starting the car or it’ll fail all of the time.
• Strange smell: An electrical or rubber burning odor is one of the smells correlated with a failed alternator
• Weird engine sound: As the voltage regulator sends signals to the alternator to charge faster than is required, the car will emit a whining sound.
• Battery dies: A dead battery may indicate a failed alternator, but it’s not always the case. The alternator will cause the battery to drain if it isn’t functioning properly. Get the alternator tested by the mobile mechanic when you have the battery replaced to see if the issues are associated.