Car overheating in Abu Dhabi traffic – how do you tell if it's the radiator or just low coolant?
I've been driving my 2015 Altima for years without any issues, but lately the temperature gauge creeps up near the red when I'm stuck on Salam Street during rush hour. I topped off the coolant reservoir and it seemed fine for a few days, but then the same thing happened again. I'm trying to understand how a mechanic actually diagnoses whether it's a stuck thermostat, a failing water pump, a clogged radiator, or just air in the system. I came across www.alzaabiautocare.com/services/car-overheating/ while searching for overheating solutions in Abu Dhabi, and it got me wondering if a pressure test alone is enough or if they also need to do a block test for head gasket issues. Does anyone here know the step by step process a good shop follows? I don't want to just replace parts randomly. Also curious if running the heater at full blast actually helps in an emergency or if that's a myth. Any insights from people who've had overheating diagnosed properly would really help me decide where to take it.