22-year-old car, so if the radiator fan hasn’t been replaced, it could be that the electric fan has failed, and the thermostat fully open isn’t cooling enough.
Zephyr said:
22-year-old car, so if the radiator fan hasn’t been replaced, it could be that the electric fan has failed, and the thermostat fully open isn’t cooling enough.
Definitely this. My girlfriend’s electric radiator fan failed on her 2012, and it caused overheating in stop-and-go traffic. Those fans don’t last forever.
Does your car have a tachometer?
Freeman said:
Does your car have a tachometer?
Yeah, it has a tachometer but no power windows or locks. It’s the 5-speed model.
Freeman said:
Does your car have a tachometer?
Yeah, it has a tachometer but no power windows or locks. It’s the 5-speed model.
Lucky! Mine has power windows and locks but no tachometer. Does your steering wheel adjust? Mine doesn’t.
@Freeman
Yeah, mine does adjust.
Parker said:
@Freeman
Yeah, mine does adjust.
Seems like different flavors of ‘poverty spec’ (at least they’re not automatics).
Anyway, your issue is probably the resistor socket between the fan and the shroud. These cars are old enough that the connectors can disintegrate or melt. I’d check that first—your car might be old enough to legally drink now!
@Freeman
Haha, love it! I’ll check the connector when I get home this weekend.
It also happens in stop-and-go traffic. I think the radiator fan isn’t turning on, as the problem doesn’t occur at speed.
Parker said:
It also happens in stop-and-go traffic. I think the radiator fan isn’t turning on, as the problem doesn’t occur at speed.
Have you checked your coolant level? It could be a leak or the fan not working.
I had a similar issue where air moving over the radiator while driving kept things cool, but long lights or drive-thrus caused overheating. Turned out it was a pinhole leak in the radiator housing.
@Thayer
This is a good first step—it’s easy to check and fix if it’s the issue.
@Thayer
Coolant level is fine, no leaks.
I had a similar issue with my 2012 Focus, and it was the fan control module. The cost difference between replacing just the module and replacing the module with the fan wasn’t much, so I replaced both.
To test, turn on your AC and check if the fan speeds up. If it doesn’t spin at all, the fan is likely done. If it spins slowly, the controller might be bad. On my ’12, the module was bolted to the fan shroud.
Could be a few things: intermittently stuck thermostat, weak water pump, or dirty radiator fins. Start with those.
On my 2016, the issue was a crack in the coolant overflow tank.
Most likely the fan speed controller on the fan assembly.
At the very least, turn the car off when it’s overheating!
Soren said:
At the very least, turn the car off when it’s overheating!
I usually blast the heat when the temp climbs. This picture was from when I forgot I left it running and went inside. 
@Parker
All due respect, but if you know it overheats at idle, why leave it running? Anyway, since it doesn’t overheat while moving, the fans aren’t kicking on. Turn on the AC and see if the fans spin. If they don’t, that’s the issue.