Engine overheating?

I just bought a '96 Camaro with a 3.4l V6 last week, and while idling in traffic, the temp gauge climbed to just under 3/4 of the way up before I was able to move. Once I got going, there was no problem; temp went back down to what I've pegged as normal. I'm not overly familiar with city driving, or cars with an electric fan instead of one driven by the crank for that matter, and so I'm wondering if this was normal for these cars, or should I start checking the relays and the fan motor? I know my mom's Saturn climbs pretty high before the fan kicks in, but I want to check with someone who's been around these cars for a while. Thanks.

Yes its very normal. Most GM vehicles have the fans preset to kick on very high. On your engine its somewhere around 215-220. So if your sitting still with no air passing threw the radiator its almost certain the temp guage will get that high.

John

if you get woried about it overheating you can turn your fan on earlier by turning your ac on. thats what i do

Are you sure it is a 96' 3.4L? Cause I am pretty sure they started putting 3.8's in half way through 95'.

Are you sure it is a 96' 3.4L? Cause I am pretty sure they started putting 3.8's in half way through 95'.
Good point, I didn't even notice that. Wow I must be slipping :banghead:

To be honest, I don't know. I was told it is a '96, but under the hood rests the 3.4l. I've never owned a Camaro before, never really looked at them due to insurance concerns until now. I figured that even a base Camaro would cost me big time since I was under 21 until January this year. It may be a '95, either the previous owner didn't know what year it was or I just heard wrong. Probably the latter, as I was trying to talk my brother out of a '93 Chevy Suburban 2500 with the small V8... 454cid. Thanks y'all.

Well, if I were in your shoes I would sure want to find out what year it is, that is a pretty vital piece of information to have, especially when it comes to getting parts...

I just found out a slightly annoying tidbit while I was out cleaning my car. It's a rebuilt salvage vehicle. So it may possibly be a '96 with a 3.4l. I'll have to decode the VIN to be sure. At any rate, I've got a pretty decent car, so I'm not going to worry about it. Thanks again.

oh cause i was gonna suggest you go to an insurance site online and act like u wanna quote and when u put your vin number in it will come back what kind of car yr,engine all that good stuff

or he could just go to a vin decoder site.

now thats a good idea, u should do that, its a big deal knowing whats in your car that vin site should do it for you.