Pontiac Repair: 1999 pontiac sunfire gt 2.4 l temperature gauge rides high, pontiac sunfire gt, pontiac sunfire

Question
I would like to know why my temperature gauge rides high all the time?  Often I have to put the heat on to get it to come down.  I have had this car for 6 yrs. and have had this problem since I have had the car!

Answer
Hi kelly:

well first off make sure the coolant is full in the over flow bottle on the right fender well. check it when the engine is cold. If it's low you have a leak and that is the issue. If it's full next thing to check is if the dar has a/c and it still works turn it on with the car running and with in a minute or so the fan should come on for the radiator if not there is a fan control issue if it does come on and the coolant it full make sure when the fan runs you feel heat being transfered if not the radtaiot may be plugged or the air flow is restricted from dirt and debris in the radiator fins of in the a/c condenser in fron of the radiator. That is where I would start looking. good luck :-)