[askjustice]

OK, 2001 olds alero v6 120k.
Last year I the car overheated (first time, only prior time) - it was 95F in DC. Pulled off - added coolant, discovered a leak where the reservoir met a tube. It held enough coolant for me to get it to my mechanic (in OH).

OK this is where I can seriously use advice if someone has seen a similar situation. Today driving from OH to Wash. DC. Hot day, a/c on for the trip - about 4 hrs to the point of the problem. Traffic jam - so I started off onto a detour (which included windy roads and very steep uphill. As soon as I go back on the highway (after about 20 mins of detour), the TRAC OFF light came on, car started "feeling funky:", heat gauge shot up to HOT and the red light on the temp "gauge" came on.
Pulled off the highway.

AAA told me to add water until I could get A/F. I was able to add 4 12 to16 oz water bottles worth.
But shortly the gauge started inching back up. But I was able to get to gas station and get A/F.

It behaved for about an hour then again the TRAC OFF, funky acting and the HOT on the temp gauge. So the rest of the way - mind you it is now in a thunderstorm/monsoon like storm - I had to cranked up the fan/hot air INSIDE the car and it was pouring out (in?) blistering heat (and since it was storming I could not open the windows) or else the temp gauge would start inching up.

Any constructive ideas would be most appreciated - I am 400 miles from home, and starting a new job in the morning (and supposed to be concentrating on that and finding an apartment), so it would really help if I had an idea how I could get my car fixed.

TY in advance.