I have a 1996 Bonneville SSE. It consistantly runs hot. The Dealership says this is normal. I've never changed the thermostat but have just recently had a full Dexcool Rad Flush done. Any advice would be appreciated.

If you have availablity to a real time scan tool... have it scanned and check to see what actual temperature it is running. The gauge is a reference too and may be inaccurate.

Scanning will tell you where the thermostat opens and if you should consider changing the stock 195 degree to a 180 degree. It will also tell you at what temperature your fans are coming on in low and high speed.

Bonnies do tend to run warm in city and traffic because the low speed fans come on at 215 and the highs around 225.

Some people have put a fan override modification on their cars so that if they are in traffic a flick of a switch turns the fans on instead of waiting for the temperature to get up to 215 or 225.

Adding a trans cooler, if you don't already have an external one, can help also. But if you're really a Canuck you may want to cover the cooler in the winter or you may get harsh shifts.

Thanks guys for the info. I'll check into these suggestions and see if they help.

What is the best way to cover the trans cooler in the winter?

With a coon skin cover...Willwren sells them outta his ebay store

A semi-rigid piece of plastic or plexiglass, with a few holes drilled in it for limited flow.

If you live in northern state or further north if you put 180 t-stat instead of 195 which is stock your hot air will be colder. I had problem with that in corsica that own after I put 195 the hot air was better. Sometimes t-stat go bad. If 96 and hasn't been replace I would replace it. But if you want know if working you can take the t-stat out put in how water and see if it opens. I replace mine every other year. I would rather replace then get stock on the edge of the road. If you do replace drain a little coolant so you want get all over the place.