Dodge Durango temperature needle climbs in traffic, what should I check first?
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My Dodge Durango has about ninety five thousand kilometres, and for the last week the temperature needle has climbed higher than normal when I sit in slow traffic with the AC on. It comes back down once I start moving, but it scared me enough that I now watch the gauge more than the road. I live in Sharjah, and the car sits in the sun all day, so the cooling system works hard. Yesterday I also noticed the coolant tank was a little low, and there was a faint sweet smell near the front after I parked. My brother says it is probably just a weak fan and I should not worry. A friend says low coolant plus a rising needle can mean a leak, and that driving a hot engine is how people end up with a very big bill. I looked online for some Dodge cooling system repair in Sharjah, but every page said fast and cheap, so I still do not know what a proper check includes. Does a good shop pressure test the system first to find the leak? Should they check the fan, the thermostat, the water pump and the radiator cap too? Can I top up the coolant myself, and which type should I use? Is it safe to drive a few days if I keep the AC off? How long does a check take, and what should it cost on a Dodge? If your car ran hot like this, please tell me what the cause was, what you paid, and what you would do differently. Easy answers help me most.