My temp keeps going up to three quarters and back down to half when the fans turn on. It does not matter if I'm driving down the road at 70 or if I'm stopped in traffic. It has not overheated yet, but I'm worried if the fans dont work it will. I just replaced the radiator and the thermostat. I also took it to a shop and had a leak down test performed and it passed. The mechanic told me the temp is going to 203 and the fans turn on until it gets to 196 and then they turn off. Any information would be great because I'm stumped.

It's your temp gauge sending unit. Your actual coolant temp is fine. The sending unit that you need to replace is the small sensor with the single prong plug on it that is screwed into the thermostat housing. Make sure you dont replace the other (larger) coolant temp sensor that is used by the computer instead.

Yeah, those coolant temps aren't abnormal, they're right where they should be. I'd suspect the gauge sender.

Is it normal for the top of the radiator to be hotter than the bottom. I thought it was just the other way around. Anyway thanks for the information guys.

Originally posted by OperationGS
Is it normal for the top of the radiator to be hotter than the bottom. I thought it was just the other way around. Anyway thanks for the information guys.

Of course. That is the direction of coolant flow, top to bottom.

Thanks for the info....My bad....Damn dislexia!!!