What should you do if your Mercedes-Benz overheats?
Photo Credit: Andrew Huff
No vehicle is immune to overheating, especially in the hot summer months or under heavy driving conditions. An engine that overheats is a major issue that one should not ignore, unless you want to pay more down the road. Read on to find what warning signs, reasons as to why overheating occurs and what to do if you notice the temperature rising in your Mercedes-Benz.
Mercedes-Benz Engine Overheating Warning Signs
Your Mercedes-Benz may show these signs when it gets too hot:
- Temperature warning light illuminated on the dashboard
- Rising temperature gauge
- Steam or smoke from under the hood
- Unusual smell
- Engine performance loss or misfiring
Common Reasons Why Your Mercedes-Benz May Overheat
While your luxury vehicle has a finely tuned cooling system, there may be issues with it that can cause overheating. These sometimes include:
- Low coolant level due to leaks
- Thermostat failure
- Faulty water pump
- Radiator or cooling fan issues
- Air pockets in the coolant system
- Failed head gasket
What Do You Do if Your Mercedes-Benz Overheats
If your Mercedes-Benz gets too hot and overheats, here are some steps you can take:
Pull Over Safely: Turn off engine to let cool. Driving a car that is overheating can cause severe damage to the engine, head gasket or radiator.
Don’t Open The Hood: Do not attempt to open the hood; wait 15 to 30 minutes. Opening the hood while hot can cause burns from steam or boiling coolant.
Check For Visible Issues: Look for coolant leaking, a broken radiator hose or low coolant level (only when vehicle is cooled).
Restart Engine: If the temp gauge is normal or the dash indicator is no longer illuminated, carefully drive over to your nearest Mercedes-Benz service center to have them take a look. If it starts overheating again, call a tow truck to get you over there.
Add Coolant: Top off coolant if that is the issue.
Your first instinct is probably to panic if your Mercedes-Benz overheats, but don’t do that, remain calm and act quickly. It’s a good idea to take your Mercedes-Benz to a trusted Mercedes-Benz repair shop to inspect the cooling system to make sure it’s functioning properly. Spend a little now to avoid a lot later on something like an engine rebuild.
Search for a local, independent Mercedes-Benz repair shop with Mercedes-Benz mechanics that have dealer-level expertise at a fraction of the cost.