1996 Saturn SL Over heating while idling
 

When the car sits and idles it begins to over heat (I never let it get into the red or even 3/4 for that matter) and when driving the car begins to colol back down... Could this be my thermostat or something else? Thanks for any help and advice you can give!

Sounds like your cooling fan is not coming on. Check fuses, relays and then the fan motor itself. If your thermostat was stuck, it would run hot regardless of whether you're moving or not.

Whooie !! - - - Rube is on top of this problem like a rooster on a June bug.

There's nothing like being a southern man in the summer, is there OA?

A/C ON ........ cooling fan runs all the time

A/C OFF ....... cooling fan turns on at "about" the 3/4 mark


A/C OFF
So sitting at a stop light it would be normal to see the temp gauge go up, than back down as you drive off. Unless you sit long enough to let temp to get to "about" the 3/4 mark and the fan comes on.

Indeed so, Rube -- I hoist my Mint Julip in your honour

Thanks for all the help guys, I know You just said that the fan isn't suppose to come on until the 3/4 mark, but I don't believe it has ever really went past the 3/8 area before. esides all that it started to boil over at 1/2 today, this means im going to need a new cap right?

Does the fan run when the A/C is turned on, and the car is just sitting there idling?

yes it comes on when the ac is on and yeah, its just idling

Open the radiator coolant jug, and look at the coolant - is it the normal color, or does it look kinda like a muddy milkshake?