with a scan tool on a cool night my car was idling about 193 degrees or so.
I have a 180 thermostat and an intense pcm programed to it now while driving my gauge reads right under 200.
I recently replaced the water pump and there was no change so I cant figure out what it could be?

anyone have any ideas?

Were you moving? Because if you werent..then that'* expected

yes wgile moving

Ok then.

You were moving. How fast?
Had you sat still for a while or done some recent spirited driving?

193 isn't overly hot and you can't expect the car will stay exactly at 180 due to t stat and pcm.

The temperture range is normal. Quit worrying and drive.

yea if i sit for a while mine will get up to about 205 and if i am doing some"spirited driving"
it will get all the way up to 220 so dont worry it isnt just happening to you its expected

Using an 180 degree thermostat doesn't mean the engine will operate at that temperature. It'* just the temperature that coolant begins to flow though the radiator.

Thermostats do not regulate coolant temperature. Engine designs (primarily radiator and oil capacity ) and operating conditions do.

Bottom Line.....

While a scan tool is a great tool to have, try to avoid the natural tendancy to over-analyze things you see on it during normal driving. Unless there is a reason for you to suspect that you have a problem, your car will let you know.

Anyone ever noticed the difference between the standard dash cluster and the SSE/SSEi cluster in regards to temp gauges....I have.

SSE/SSEi are spread out much more..therefore you really notice any fluctuations and differences in temp. Like the standard clusters...my truck has a tighter gauge and you wouldn't notice a 10 degree difference very easily.

It may be that we are over thinking this one and it'* running just fine.