Thread: Operating Temp????

Hi I just bought a 2004 GP GT and I noticed that the cars temp gauge reads a little higher while driving then Im used to. The gauge is broke into fourths but the top fourth is danger zone so I look at mine in thirds.

My question is is it normal for the gauge to read just above half when driving and climb to the two thrids or a little higher when stopped in traffic?? I noticed this yesterday when I did some stop and go and highway driving. Temp outside was about 67 and sunny.

Anything under the hood I should look at?

Thanks for the info I will check the hoses. I watched the fan and it didn't come on until it reached what would have been the two thirds mark and then engine cooled down. do you thing the gauge might be off??

Also I plan on getting a coolant flush at my local gm dealer and I will ask them about it as well.

Its just weird having a gauge where the top quarter is all red zone. On all my other vehicle it was just the very top mark of the gauge. Im just not sure if I should count that part or just lower part thats not red cause if I counted that it would be running in between a half and quarter???

thanks for any help

Well today I took the car into my local GM dealer. I had them flush the coolant and replace the t-stat (OEM 195 degree). This did not help the issue. But i did find out what temps the car is running at. (scanner)

When Im on the highway it runs at about 201 right in the middle of the gauge. When I stop the gauge climbs to about 219 which is about two thirds on the gauge. The dealer looked it up and said that the first fan stage kicks in at about 215. When the fan kicks in the temp drops back down to about 201.

It stays at 201 for a little while then begins to climb again if the car remains at idle. If im driving it stays at around 201.

Both the dealer and myself looked for leaks around the intake and head gaskets. No wetness of leaks that we could see. Oil seems clean as well.

I have owned the car for about a week and I monitored the coolant. No puddles and both the radiator and overflow remained at the proper levels.

As mentioned above both radiator hoses are similar in temp...Hot to touch when the car is warm and they seem to be pressurized... I can squeeze them a little bit.


Is this ok for the car to be doing?? The dealer was out of ideas and said that it was still operating in the normal range. Any ideas?? I just bought the car Please help!!!