My car overheats when the weather is warm and I am stuck in traffic or going only very slowly. This does not happen if I am moving or during the winter. In fact if the temperature gauge is elevated and I can start driving at normal speeds, even at 35 mph instead of stop and go driving, the engine temperature gauge will go down to normal. When it happened the first time, I thought that the problem was it needed antifreeze and I changed the antifreeze. I am on a fixed income and I need to know how expensive this repair will be, before I take it in.
Check and see if the electric radiator cooling fan comes on.
Tester
Yes, when engine is hot open your hood and make sure those electric fans are running.
Carefully clean out bugs and debris from your radiator. Run water from a hose through it, from inside the engine compartment out towards the front. Not too much water pressure.
How many miles on the car? How high does the temp actually get? This may be fairly normal.
Unless you have a head gasket problem it shouldn’t be too expensive. Maybe a worn out water pump or thermostat problem. Turn on the heat to avoid overheating the engine.