Ford Repair: 97 Mercury Cougar, mercury cougar, temp guage

Question
I have a 97 Mercury Cougar,and every summer I have a over heating problem. I have changed the thermostat to the coldest one I could.Fan on radator is working the way it should be.I have even ran with no thermostat,And still the same problem.The temp guage always stays in the middle except when I am in heavy trafic or stoped at a trafic light temp.goes up,fan kicks in an temp still goes up .This happens about once a week.I live in fl.Would their possible to small of a radator in this car? I also had a new water pump put on.
              Thank you
              Henry Roberts

Answer
Yes, the radiator could be too small.  If it is the original radiator, i wouldn't worry about that as manufacturers put the correct size ones in.  It may be pluged, i would drain the coolant, run the piss out of it with clean water in it, drain it again, and maybe repeat that a few times.  Also, check your timing.  Some people think they have cooling problems when the real problem is that the ignition timing is set too far advanced.  Timing should be set no further than 14 degrees at idle for a daily driver.  Last possibility is the engine has something wrong inside creating friction and heat, but it probably would have blown up a long time ago.