Skip to main content

Car Overheating? Seeing a Colorful Puddle?


Seeing a mysterious puddle under your car or watching the temperature gauge climb into the red can be alarming. These are classic signs of a coolant leak, a problem you should never ignore.

But don't panic. As your roadside experts in Toronto, the team at SAFE is here to explain what’s happening and what you should do next.


What Are The Telltale Signs of a Coolant Leak?

There are two main ways your car will alert you to a coolant problem.

 

1. The Puddle Under Your Car

This is the easiest sign to spot. After your car has been parked, look underneath for a puddle. Antifreeze (coolant) is intentionally colored to make it easy to identify. The color can tell you a lot about the type your car uses.

Here’s a quick guide to common antifreeze colors:

GreenKia, Hyundai, Subaru, Nissan , Mitsubishi, Mazda, Infinti
RedLexus, Toyota
BlueAcura,, Honda, Nissan, Infinti, Subaru
Turquoise
Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Mini, Porsche, Volvo, VW
PinkAudi, Jaguar, Porsche, VW
PurpleAudi, Mercedes, Porsche, VW
OrangeFord, Lincoln, Mercury
Orange IIGMC, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saturn, Hummer
Purple IIJeep, Dodge, Ram, Chrysler
YellowUniversal

If you see a puddle—no matter the color—it means you have a leak that needs attention.


2. The Rising Temperature Gauge


Your car's temperature gauge should normally sit in the middle of the range.  If you see it climbing towards "H" (Hot), this is a serious warning. Running an engine while it's overheated can cause severe and expensive damage. It is not an exaggeration to say it can ruin the engine completely.


What to Do if Your Car is Overheating

If you are driving and see the temperature gauge rising, follow these steps immediately:

  1. Turn on your car's heater. This sounds counterintuitive, but it pulls heat away from the engine, which can help cool it down slightly.
  2. Find a safe place to pull over. Get off the main road and away from traffic.
  3. Shut off the engine immediately.
  4. Do not open the radiator cap. The system is under high pressure and the coolant is scalding hot.


Don't Get Stranded. Get SAFE Roadside Help.

An overheating engine is not something to risk. You may not have the right type of coolant on hand, and driving any further could be a costly mistake. This is where we come in.

The expert technicians at SAFE roadside can come directly to you anywhere in Toronto, and across the GTA. We can provide emergency coolant, diagnose the immediate issue, and advise you on the safest next steps

Is Your Car Battery Trying to Tell You Something?

5 Signs It's Time for a Check-Up


Is there anything more stressful than turning the key in your ignition and hearing... nothing? A dead battery can ruin your day, but your car often gives you warning signs before it happens.


At SAFE roadside, we've seen it all. Here are the top 5 signs our trained technicians see every day that suggest your car battery might be on its last legs.



1. The Slow, Struggling Start Remember how your car used to start instantly? If it now takes longer to crank the engine (that ruh-ruh-ruh sound), your battery is struggling to deliver the power needed. This is often the very first sign of weakness.


2. Dimming Lights and Slow Electronics Your battery powers everything before the engine is running. Turn on your headlights without starting the car. Do they look dimmer than usual? Are your power windows moving slower? This points to a low charge and a faltering battery.


3. The Dreaded Battery Warning Light This one is obvious, but you can't ignore it. That little battery-shaped icon on your dashboard is a direct message from your car's diagnostic system that something is wrong with the battery or the alternator.


4. It Won't Hold a Charge You just drove across the GTA, from Hamilton to Toronto. You park for 30 minutes, and the car won't start again. A healthy battery should be fully charged after a long drive. If yours isn't, it’s a clear sign it can no longer store power effectively.


5. The Battery is Getting Old Most car batteries have a lifespan of 3 to 5 years. This can be affected by extreme Canadian weather—both hot summers and freezing winters. If your battery is in that age range, it’s wise to have it tested before it leaves you stranded.


Is it the Battery or the Alternator?

Sometimes the issue isn't the battery itself but the alternator—the component that charges the battery while you drive. A SAFE roadside technician can perform a quick diagnostic test after a boost to see if your alternator is working properly. This simple step can save you from replacing a perfectly good battery.