OK here'* the thing i noticed: friends mom'* car, i've been helping her with a garage sale past few days and been using her car a lot. It'* a '97 eighty eight, 3800 SII, 54k miles on it, imaculate condition. Only thing i noticed that while driving it around town, A/C on and about 85 degrees outside, that the temp gauge is right between the 200 and 280 or whatever mark it is. Basically 3/4 of the way up the scale. Now that just seems REALLY high to me considering my '87 runs at like 185 no matter how hard i drive it. Any ideas?

That is bit hot. Have you checked the t-stat those things get stuck then need to be repalce. How long since the coolant has And been flashed? And is dexcoolant or green stuff. Now when ever had a cool problem on my cars mainly caviler it has always been the t-stat.

Yea that sounds like the Tstat is stuck, with the AC on the temp shouldnt be nearly that high.

Well i'm pretty sure it'* got the green stuff in it, but don't quote me on it. My first thought was the t-stat too, but i'll never be able to talk her into it if it doesn't HAVE to be done instantly. But i don't blame them they have one income and 3 kids to support and 2 other vehicles (a grand am quad four ick and a ford exploder ick). Well thanks for the input!

I doubt your thermostat is stuck closed or else it'd get much hotter.

Do the cooling fans kick on?

a t-stat cost under 10 bucks not hard job it will be that or a new engine if she keeps driving it. IF she doesn't have the money for it should really be taken off the road it well shorten the lifespan of motor if it doesn't break something in the motor because of the heat.

check the fans too.
I had neon and the caviler do the same thing when the t-stat broke. actual cav broke twice in about 6 month the new was bad. what happen to me on both the cars they would open late, because the spring had failed or was failing. On the neon it would open until about 230-240. I checked with a therometer by adjust the boiling point of water.