David,
lets also mention the fact that the fan kicks in in three speeds and it
should go into loud noticeable noise once the temp is up above acceptable
levels - if fan does not kick in the resistorpack (behind driver side
lights...) is most likely the culprit

>Pat, the thermostat doesn't snap open and shut, it's gradual.  It will keep
>the water flowing past it at <roughly> the same temperature -- until it's
>wide open.  At that point, any additional heat input will drive the

>So anyway, if your gauge stays put, that means that the thermostat isn't
>fully open, and you have excess cooling capacity without engaging the fan.
>When it rises and the fan comes on, your excess (if any) is the amount of
>time that the fan does *not* run.  If the fan is running continuously and
>the gauge still rising, you're about to overheat.