What are potential causes of overheating besides water circulation issues?

Overheating in vehicles can indeed have various causes, and one notable cause is binding brakes. When brakes are not functioning correctly, they can create excessive friction, which generates heat. This is particularly true if the brake components are sticking or not fully releasing, causing the brake pads to remain in contact with the rotors even when they are not needed. This situation leads to the accumulation of heat, which can raise the overall temperature of the vehicle and contribute to overheating.

While other factors, like loose electrical connections, incorrect tire pressure, and clogged air filters, can affect engine performance and efficiency, they do not contribute directly to the overheating condition in the same way that binding brakes do. Loose electrical connections might lead to electrical failures, incorrect tire pressure could impact handling and fuel efficiency, and clogged air filters can restrict airflow to the engine, but none of these issues inherently raises the vehicle's operating temperature as significantly as binding brakes do.