My car has a 160 t-stat and the dual fans are on as soon as I turn the key. City driving it stays at about 180*, cruising stays at about 160* all day long.If I start up a hill on a hot day it climbs to about 230-240*.It does it faster when the a/c is on. As soon as I stop and let it idle it'll cool back down. Does this sound like the water pump, cap, or t-stat? The radiator is new also.

 

Is the air dam on the car?? Also be sure its not broken or has any pieces missing.

 

In place and in shape. stays cool cruising. If I can make it up the hill fast enough it won't go over 200* but if I am stuck behind somebody slow then it heats up.

 

sorry I somehow missed the whole part about you can cruze at 160 all day....

 

You just gotta think about it.
Going up hill will take a lot more work from the engine thus more heat.

I had the same problem with my car. All I did is get an aftermarket fan with a lot more CFM thus making up for the lack of cooling when u're going up hill.

I would flush the system (with a flush kit), then I would get some aftermarket fans and you will notice the difference. Its awsome once you relize that all your cooling sytem really needed was stronger fans.

Our stock systems were made soooooo crapy that it really scares me to drive any stock third gen. The first thing I do when I get a third gen is get aftermarket fans. Give it a shot.