What should you do if your vehicle is overheating?

If your vehicle is overheating, the appropriate action is to pull over safely and turn off the engine, then check the coolant levels when it is safe to do so. Overheating can lead to severe engine damage, so it is critical to stop the vehicle to prevent further complications. Turning off the engine will help to cool it down gradually and allows you to assess the situation without risking more significant overheating.

Checking the coolant levels is essential because low coolant can be a primary cause of overheating. If the coolant is low, you may need to add more, but it's vital to wait until the engine has cooled down to avoid burns or injuries from hot steam or liquid.

Other options would not effectively address the overheating issue. For instance, turning on the heater can temporarily help pull heat away from the engine, but it may not be practical or comfortable, especially in warm weather. Keeping the vehicle in motion can exacerbate the overheating problem by increasing engine strain. Opening the hood while driving is dangerous and would not effectively reduce engine temperature, as the airflow while moving is not sufficient to cool it down significantly. Therefore, pulling over and turning off the engine is the safest and most effective response to an overheating situation.