Chrysler Repair: overheating, radiator shop, air path

Question
I have a chrysler 2000 sebring (not a convertable) that was overheating. The
hand never went to the H mark.I cut it off every time it started moving up. So
i had a friend put in the 50/50 coolant and replaced the thermostat.It was
also low on oil so oil was put in. Still heating? My only ride. What now?

Answer
Hi Christina,
You need to distinguish between overheating and normal variation in the temperature during operation. Usually with Chrysler gauges, the temp will vary between 1/4 and 3/4 of H as you go along. It is not really overheating unless it gets closes to H and stays there or goes all the way to H, or steam is released from the overflow bottle.
If you meet either of those criteria, then given what you have told me you have done I would stop as you have before, then open the hood and touch the solid surface of the left-hand side of the radiator, then do the same at the right-hand side. If one side is quite hot and the other is alot cooler, then you have a partially clogged radiator that needs to be cleaned out or replaced (depending upon cost/repairability, ask at a radiator shop). About the only other possibilities are that the brakes are dragging (are the wheels quite hot after you have been driving but not using the brakes?) or the water pump may not be doing a good job of moving the coolant around, or the radiator air path may be clogged with leaves/debris (look through the grille at a light which you place on the back side of the radiator and notice if you can see it clearly through the openings).
That would be my approach to your situation. It may also be that the gauge is not accurate so when you are touching comparing the sides of the radiator notice if the hot side is also too hot to touch. If not, then your gauge is reading inaccurately high.
Roland
PS Please 'rate' my answer. Thanks