That would make me think stuck thermostat, certainly not the water pump.

YouGoFirst wrote:
>>My 2 cents. A water pump is a very simple device. There are only four
>>things that can go bad, the bearings, the seal, the impeller, and
>>miscellaneous leaks. You would hear the bearings if bad, or the fan shaft
>>would be loose. I assume that you would spot a seal problem or any leaks.
>>Loss of fluid and dripping would be your first clue. Now if the impeller
>>were bad, then you would get poor circulation, but also at speed.
>>
>>I think we can assume that the pump is not the problem, although you would
>>have to remove and inspect it to be absolutely sure. On some vehicles,
>>you
>>can take off the pressure cap and visually verify coolant flow, short of
>>this. I do not know whether you can do so with the GC. Do not try it
>>with
>>the engine hot. Take off the cap with the engine cool, warm it up, and
>>note
>>what happens. If you wait long enough, and the engine is really running
>>235, it may boil over. Oops! What you are looking for, is movement in
>>the
>>coolant before this.
>>
>>Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about the gauge, unless the system
>>is
>>boiling over. Then, you have real problems. If it really bothers you, I
>>have some suggestions. Install those hood vents that someone mentioned.
>>Buy or fabricate shims to lift up the back of the hood, like the ricers
>>with
>>big engines do. Load up the GC with camping gear, and head for the
>>mountains. It's pretty hot up here even, but the Channel 9 weather girl
>>says it's going to cool down by Saturday. She's hot too, but in a
>>different
>>way.
>>
>
>
> I am leaning more towards a bad impeller because I noticed thismorning as I
> was driving into work earlier than normal, that the temperature didn't get
> up to its normal 190 until I had slowed down below 35 mph. That would make
> me think that the coolant isn't moving through the radiator fast enough.
>
>
>

--
Jerry Bransford
PP-ASEL N6TAY
See the Geezer Jeep at
http://members.cox.net/jerrypb/