Your radiator is an important component within the system because it dispels heat built up in the car's cooling system. When coolant flows through the radiator, scale and debris begin to get caught up on the walls. This will drastically reduce the cooling capability of the radiator and it will break down in time. But a broken down radiator isn't the only problem. It will lead to other car problems requiring immediate intervention from radiator specialists.

Your Heater Core's Tubes Break Down

Your car's heater core is a smaller version of the radiator with a similar tubing network inside. These tubes work to produce the hot air needed for the heating system. But a broken down radiator can cause debris and scales to get stuck in the heater core tubes. Apart from this, a failed radiator causes engine overheating and excessive pressure. The added heat and pressure can result in a broken heater core over time. If your windows start fogging up all the time when you drive, it's probably because something has gone wrong with your heater core.

Your Water Pump's Rotor Becomes Faulty

The function of the water pump in your car is to constantly move coolant through the entryways and hoses of the cooling system through a rotor. In most car engines, this rotor is typically made from plastic materials. If a broken down radiator fails to cool the liquid before it passes through the rotor, then high temperatures could result in significant damage to the rotor. Contaminants breaking away from a damaged radiator can also result in grazes and damage to this component. If the problem is ignored for too long, pieces of the rotor will break away and disturb proper coolant flow.

Your Car's Thermostat Starts Malfunctioning

Every engine has a designated operating temperature, which is controlled by the thermostat sitting near the radiator hoses. This thermostat regulates water flowing through the cooling system. When the engine of your car reaches its designated operating temperature, the thermostat will open and allow free flowing water to cool the system. But when the radiator fails, the pressure on the thermostat increases, which causes it to malfunction. A failed thermostat's valve will get stuck and may cause your engine to overheat. Your car's mileage will also be negatively impacted. Only radiator specialists may be able to assess the impact of a failed radiator on your thermostat.

Radiator specialists are best equipped to tackle problems with radiators and the issues triggered by broken down radiators. If you feel like your engine is overheating more often than usual, be sure to head to a specialist as soon as possible.