> 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.