QuestionMy daughter in law has a 2000 Mazda Protege ES, 87,600 miles, VIN # JM1BJ2214Y0219286, that has started overheating in the last two months, approximately. I'm told that when she is idiling at a traffic light, drive-thru, or driving slow in heavy traffic that the temperature gauge will creep up above the 3/4 mark, close to the upper limit of the gauge. The temperature returns to normal, mid-gauge, when she returns to driving at normal speeds. As far as I know, there have been no signs of coolant leaking. I'm unsure as to the maintenance history of this car because for the most part, it sat in the driveway, undriven, while she was away at school until this past May. Thanks for any help you can provide.
Answergot to be one of 2 things, either the cooling fan is not working, or the thermostat is sticking.. let it idle open the hood and after it gets around half way, the cooling fan should kick in, i would also feel the upper and radiator hoses, if the top hose is hot and the lower one cold, i would change the thermostat
