[WITELITENIN]

My car came close to overheating, today. It NEVER runs hot. I have an aluminum radiator, 3000 cfm electric fan (less than a year old). I think the water pump is stock, though. It looks pretty old. Is there any way to tell if this is a stuck thermostat, or the water pump? Help is appreciated.

[MadMatt]

A way to check if your thermostat is stuck closed is next time it starts to overheat again, get under the hood and feel the temp of both your upper and lower radiator hoses. If they are the same temperature then it is not your thermostat. If one hose is cold and the other is hot, or at least substantialy cooler than the other then your thermostat is stuck closed. I believe it is the upper hose that will be the cold one.