Q: What is fail-safe cooling?

Your engine is equipped with a feature called fail-safe cooling. Essentially, this is a technology that helps minimize the damage caused by overheating the engine. If the engine begins to overheat, the Check Engine light will come on and the gauge will move into the red area. The engine will then switch to fail-safe cooling mode. Several cylinders will be shut down to pump air in order to cool the engine. You may notice reduced power and performance from your engine during this time. You can drive the car for a short distance, this way, but be cautious as you can still damage the engine. Have your car inspected immediately.