# Over heating car **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** engines\ **Created:** [September 20, 2014, 1:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/over-heating-car/87273 "2014-09-20T01:15:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tathrion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/da6949/32.png) [@tathrion](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tathrion)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 1:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/over-heating-car/87273/1 "2014-09-20T01:15:37Z")
I have a 98 Buick Century, with about 250k miles on it. Recently when I first start the car and drive a few miles the temperature gauge keeps rising until it is in the red zone and a warning light comes on. When I pull of to the side of the road after a bit it begins to slowly drop and I can begin to drive again. The gauge will then normally stay a bit above halfway for the remainder of the trip, the gauge has sometimes done a bit of jumping around between 3/4 and half sometimes though. The only work that I have had done on it recently is to have some work done on the ac system. Just wondering if anyone could help me find out what is going on. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 4:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/over-heating-car/87273/2 "2014-09-20T04:02:42Z")
First thing is to check the level of coolant to make sure it is ok. Then it could be a sticky thermostat, or heaven forbid a head gasket which is not something you want to do. ---
**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 4:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/over-heating-car/87273/3 "2014-09-20T04:24:44Z")
My vote is on a sticky thermostat. And, if has been a few years since the cooling system was serviced, I’d do a complete coolant drain-n-fill with a rinsing of the radiator and new thermostat and radiator cap. Also, it would be an ideal time to inspect heater and radiator hoses, replacing any that look suspect.