car running hot

[jpws6]

I have a 97 v6 firebird and it started running hot today. Normally it stays around 180-185, but today driving to work it was running over 210 up around 220. It would then drop down to around 200, but then climb back up to 220. Since the car runs around 180-185 normally I am assuming I have a 180 degree thermostat. I changed the coolant over the summer with dex cool and it has been fine for about 6 months or so until today. I am thinking it is the thermostat, but could it be anything else?

[1997redchevycamarors]

it could be alot of things, but i would change the thermostat first, being that it costs alot less and very easy to change

[Ian]

yea, change the t-stat. it could be getting stuck or something like that. its cheap to do.

[jpws6]

Upadate: Well I went out to change the thermostat and opened the radiator cap and it was low. So I filled it up, drove around for about 20 minutes and it was fine, the temp never even reached 185. Once it got close to 185 it dropped, like it always has, temps stayed around 175-180. However, I think the water pump might be leaking. For the last couple weeks, there have been large puddles under the car, I thought it was oil, but it looks like it might be coolant now since it was low. The puddles are not there everyday, but it does look wet around the water pump, kind of like rusty water. How can I check to make sure it is the water pump that is leaking. I have searched and it looks relatively easy to change on a 3.8, any special tools I need, I saw that the 3.4 requires you to remove the pulley. I was going to order one from gmpartsdirect, but would it be easier to just get one from napa or autozone?

[ January 05, 2004: Message edited by: jpws6 ]</p>